Chiefs want safari operations to benefit communities

environment policy that compels safari operators in their areas to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The chiefs said the operators were not bringing any meaningful development to their areas but environmental destruction and making super profits for themselves.
They also appealed to Government to resuscitate the irrigation schemes that are lying idle in their areas.
The traditional leaders were speaking during the launch of the Middle Zambezi Valley Biosphere Reserve in Kariba last Friday. Chief Nebiri, who is also the Senator for Kariba, said safari operators were neglecting the areas they were operating in.
“Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management, should put in place laws which forces these operators to at least give back something to local communities.
“We have vast natural resources in our areas including wildlife but these safari operators are here for profits only.
“Together with poachers, they take our minerals, resources and go without bringing anything to the society.
“They are the ones who use the roads, which are deteriorating everyday, but they don’t bother to help in taking care of the roads. If it continues like this, in the next few years there will be nothing to talk of,” he said.
Chief Nebiri, whose area covers Kariba, Hurungwe and Makute, added that the communities were not benefiting from the revenue from Lake Kariba.
“Our schools and clinics and the general infrastructure are in a sorry state but revenue from the lake is being taken away and we want that corrected in line with Government laws,” he said.
Chief Mola urged Government ensure food security for the Tonga people by resuscitating irrigation schemes in their areas.
He said the handouts they were receiving from Government and donors were not reliable.
“We have water here and all we need is to be helped in resuscitating these irrigation schemes. We are tired of handouts because we are Zimbabweans who are capable of doing things for ourselves.
“To make matters worse, the handouts are not reliable because its not obvious that they will be delivered,” he said.
Chief Mola bemoaned lack of professional people in his area as a result of dilapidated infrastructure.
“We were surprised to read that over 2000 nurses and doctors are jobless yet we have vacancies in these areas.
“We know that most people shun our areas because of living standards that are poor, so we are appealing to Government to help us,” he said. Stakeholders in the environment sector, Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ministry officials, traditional leaders and district administrators attended the event.