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Tafadzwa Kadani recently in Chiredzi
The effects of the El Nino-induced drought are clear for all to see. Historically, rains in Zimbabwe end around this time and nothing significant has fallen from the skies.
Some have concluded that the gods have gone crazy and the next showers will only signal the coming of winter.
Crops in most parts of the country have been written off while livestock, especially cattle, continue to die.
Government has sent an SOS for international humanitarian assistance, but it is not just waiting with arms folded for food aid.
Several drought mitigation strategies have been rolled out, which will see importation of staple grain, introduction of a schools feeding scheme, provision of stock feed to affected domestic animals, and identification of malnourished children for supplementary feeding.
Amid all this, a survival of the fittest battle has erupted between humans, livestock and wildlife.
The co-existence of these parties in Gonarezhou National park is now charecterised by a nasty battle to survive.
Livestock pastures have been depleted, so have human food supplies.
The only available option is to invade Gonarezhou National Park in search for pastures and meat for human consumption.
But the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is determined to bar humans and their livestock into the animal sanctuary.
The reason is to control animal disease and poaching of wildlife.
Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, during a visit to Malilangwe Trust Conservancy, which is part of Gonarezhou, said: “The fight for space becomes a reality with communities destroying fences to increase their pastoral lands.
“The population of both humans and wildlife is increasing and this has resulted in the fight for space and territory.
“Communities as the owners of wildlife need to feel involved and also benefit from wildlife conservancy so that when they see wildlife they see an investment.”
However, custodians of the area feel relevant authorities should provide clear boundaries between human settlements and wildlife habitation.
They say the current situations at Malilangwe, Chiredzi River Conservancy and Save Valley conservancy needed an amicable solution.
“Since 2010, about 1000 cattle have been devoured by lions in our communities. As you know honourable minister, most of us went to school through our parents selling cattle and we need an urgent solution,” said Chief Budzi.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said she appreciated there was need to resolve the stand-off and Government would move in to ensure sanity through provision of food aid to mitigate the effects of the drought.
She added: “We have heard that some of you have been notorious, cutting down security fences and this has led to your livestock falling prey to lions. As a ministry we do not condone such behaviour and it should stop henceforth.”
The minister said she was conscious that so many people had lost their livestock and sometimes homes to wildlife.
Malilangwe Trust director Mr Mark Saunders said apart from human and wildlife conflicts there were also alarming levels of deforestation that was threatening the national park.
“At Malilangwe Trust we have lost close to 400 hectares of the indigenous Mupani trees to deforestation, while we have rangers to patrol the conservancy, they are not enough to watch over the whole area,” he said.
Present on the tour was president of the Zimbabwe Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, who urged conservancy owners to engage their communities in raising awareness of wildlife management.
Online Reporter