One million pound boost for Hwange National Park conservation

THE Hwange National Park has received a shot in the arm with the announcement of a €1 million grant aimed at enhancing habitat and wildlife protection.

The generous contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery is earmarked to strengthen ongoing rescue and conservation work by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) in and around the vast 14 600 square kilometre Hwange National Park.

Hwange, Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest national park, is a critical sanctuary for over 45 000 African savannah elephants, representing one of the largest populations on the continent.

The investment will specifically support wildlife rescue efforts, enhance ranger capacity, and secure critical wildlife migration routes that are vital for the ecosystem’s health.

Since 2019, Ifaw has been working collaboratively with ZimParks and local communities under the “Room to Roam” initiative.

ZimParks director-general Professor Edson Gandiwa, expressed gratitude for the support, emphasising its alignment with national development priorities.

“We are grateful to our partners for this support, which we believe will help us safeguard our treasured wildlife resource and build resilience for wildlife, habitats, and the people coexisting with wildlife in the greater Hwange ecosystem, in line with Zimbabwe’s national development agenda,” said Prof Gandiwa.

Ifaw Zimbabwe country director Ms Alleta Nyahuye, said the partnership aims to secure the Hwange–Matetsi–Zambezi ecosystem, one of Southern Africa’s most important conservation landscapes, by creating space for wildlife while supporting the communities that live alongside them.

“Over the past six years, the Ifaw-ZimParks partnership has managed to tackle some of the pressing conservation challenges in and around Hwange, and with this contribution from the Postcode Lottery, we can expand our work and continue building a future in which people and nature can live safely alongside one another,” said Ms Nyahuye.

The funding comes at a critical time when human-wildlife conflict and the need for robust anti-poaching measures remain high priorities.

By strengthening ranger capacity and securing migration corridors, the initiative aims to reduce conflict and allow for the natural movement of elephants and other species across borders.

“Thanks in part to our participants, Ifaw can continue and strengthen this important work in Zimbabwe,” said Jonne Arnoldussen, managing director of the Postcode Lottery.“Together, we are contributing to a world in which people and nature can live in balance.”

The collaborative approach has already yielded significant results, including the rehabilitation of water pans, deployment of solar-powered water pumps, and community engagement programmes that provide alternative livelihoods and promote coexistence.

These efforts align with Zimbabwe’s broader vision for sustainable wildlife management.

The Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi landscape forms a vital part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza), the world’s largest transboundary conservation zone.

This latest injection of funds ensures that Zimbabwe remains at the forefront of innovative conservation that balances ecological integrity with community development.