Safari company sets aside US$150 000 for food relief in Mat North

WILDERNESS Safaris, one of the leading tour and safari companies, has set aside US$150 000 for a three months food relief programme in Hwange, Lupane and Tsholotsho districts, targeting over 8 000 learners.

The relief also extends to Zambia where the company also operates. With effects of drought affecting communities after a failed cropping season this year, Wilderness Safaris, through the Children In The Wilderness came up with the food relief programme, which distributed 1 300 food packs this month reaching out to 8 300 beneficiaries.

For three months, 3 900 food parcels will be distributed to the targeted schools that are near Wilderness Safaris camps thereby offering the much needed relief to 8 300 beneficiaries in three months.

Wilderness Safaris operates in five SADC countries namely Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as in Kenya and Rwanda.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with local leaders and complements Government’s schools feeding programme.

CITW and communities co-ordinator, Ms Sue Goatley, said Wilderness also capacitated schools with gardens and other eco-friendly sustainable projects to fight food insecurity caused by severe drought.

“There are 24 schools involved in Tsholotsho, Hwange, Victoria Falls and Lupane areas, which are affected by drought. Core to the sustainability of our business is the understanding that our local communities are intrinsically connected to the wild areas and wildlife we help protect,” she said.

“As custodians of these affected regions and through pro-active planning, we are deeply committed to helping our partner communities navigate this challenging period and we join all in praying for a good rainy season to come.”

Ms Goatley paid tribute to Michael and Karen Stone Foundation for helping in implementing the drought relief nutrition programme to primary school learners in some of the hardest hit partner communities in Zimbabwe.

CITW is a life skills, educational and environmental programme that focuses on the next generation of rural decision makers, developing environmental leaders who are inspired to care for their natural heritage.

The Wilderness Group employs 370 people in Zimbabwe. CITW and Wilderness Community Officer, Mr Mxolisi Sibanda, said the food relief programme is being replicated in Zambia and a combined US$150 000 had been committed for drought relief in both countries for three months.

Benefitting schools are Mtshayeli, Matupula, Mlevu, Sipepa, Mpindo, Kapane, Jakalasi, Ziga and Ngamo in Tsholotsho.

In Hwange, there is St Mary’s, Main Camp, Lukosi, Chidobe, Mizpah, Sizinda and Chisuma while in Lupane there is Mtshibini, Mpofu, Lupane, Makhovula, Kusile, Phumakanye, Ndlovu and AMR Sisters.

The total number of learners benefitting is 8 322.

“We reached 8 322 students last month through nutrition support, which covered the total enrolment across these schools. This will be the same number of beneficiaries for the next two distributions,” said Mr Sibanda.

“Through Children in the Wilderness, we educate and empower communities bordering national parks, recognising that thriving communities contribute to thriving wildlife and ecosystems.

“Through CITW, we work to foster conservation awareness and leadership among the youth in these communities, aiming to cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders who understand and value the connection between people, wildlife, and natural resources.”

He said there are 47 partner schools being focused on across Zimbabwe in 2024. The company has since inception in the 1980s implemented a number of programmes including hosting 474 learners at eco-camps, supporting nearly 2 600 children in Eco-Clubs, and awarded 4 085 scholarships worth UU$607 000.

Wilderness is building the Ngamo Livestock Farm and Vocational Centre near Hwange to boost local skills, economy, and job opportunities.

About US$35 000 was donated to support Zimbabwean schools affected by drought with the commitment to contribute US$100 000 over three months, outside the food relief.

-@ncubeleon