Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE country’s premier wildlife conservation landscape, the Hwange–Matetsi–Zambezi ecosystem, has received a significant financial boost following a €1 million grant from the Dutch Postcode Lottery to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw).
The latest injection follows another £1 million donation received earlier this year, underscoring growing international confidence in Zimbabwe’s wildlife conservation model.
The new funding is earmarked for habitat protection, wildlife rescue operations and the strengthening of ranger capacity across the vast landscape, which is home to more than 45 000 African savannah elephants.
Ifaw has been a key conservation partner in the region since 2019, working alongside the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) and local communities under its Room to Roam initiative.
The programme seeks to reconnect critical wildlife migration corridors, enabling animals to move freely between Hwange, Matetsi and the Zambezi River.
On the ground, the Zimparks–Ifaw partnership has already resulted in significant infrastructure improvements within the park.
Key achievements include the scooping of Nyamandlovu Pan to secure water for wildlife, construction of the Makona base station, and rehabilitation of the 100-kilometre stretch from the main camp to Makona.
Tourism facilities have also been upgraded, with renovated accommodation units, improved picnic sites and enhanced ranger welfare infrastructure.
Beyond the park boundaries, Ifaw has extended support to communities living alongside wildlife.
Programmes include the donation of bicycles to assist schoolchildren with safe travel, payment of school fees for vulnerable learners, elephant collaring to monitor movement patterns, and deployment of EarthRanger systems to reduce human–wildlife conflict.
“Zimbabwe’s wildlife conservation efforts have received a major uplift, with a €1 million grant from the Postcode Lottery to Ifaw to support habitat protection and wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe, and across the Hwange–Matetsi–Zambezi landscape,” said Ifaw in a statement.
The funding will strengthen Ifaw’s ongoing work in and around Hwange National Park, which is home to more than 45 000 African savannah elephants.
Key focus areas include wildlife rescue, enhancing ranger capacity and securing vital migration corridors.
The organisation said that, at a time of mounting pressure from climate change and habitat loss, the investment is critical to safeguarding one of Africa’s most important ecosystems.
“Since 2019, Ifaw has worked with Zimparks and local communities under the RoomtoRoam initiative to protect and reconnect this critical ecosystem, ensuring wildlife can move freely while supporting livelihoods,” reads the statement.
Ifaw Zimbabwe country director Ms Alleta Nyahuye said the donation would enable the organisation to scale up its interventions.
“The incredible support of the Postcode Lottery allows us to expand our work and build a future where people and nature coexist,” she said.
