Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
MATABELELAND North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo has called for the empowerment of young people with conservation knowledge and practical skills to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage, while improving the livelihoods of communities living alongside animals.
Speaking at the launch of Room to Roam Nature Clubs at Matetsi Primary School yesterday, Minister Moyo said educating learners about conservation was key to nurturing a generation that values the country’s natural resources.
The clubs, established through a partnership between the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) have been launched in 23 schools across the Hwange-Matetsi landscape.
“Matabeleland North is home to some of Zimbabwe’s most important wildlife landscapes, but it is also home to communities whose daily lives are closely connected to these natural resources,” he said.
“By equipping our children with conservation knowledge and practical skills, these clubs will help nurture a generation that values our natural heritage and understands that protecting wildlife must go hand in hand with improving the wellbeing of our communities.”
The launch was attended by IFAW president and chief executive Mr Azzedine Downes and ZimParks director-general Professor Edson Gandiwa alongside more than 200 learners, parents and community leaders.
The partners handed over nature club guidebooks, curriculum textbooks and bicycles to support learners travelling long distances to school.
The clubs will teach learners about biodiversity, climate change, land use and human-wildlife coexistence with activities including tree planting, gardening, clean-up campaigns, nature walks, park visits and community outreach.
Learners will elect their own leaders, identify environmental challenges affecting their communities and organise practical conservation activities with the support of teacher mentors.
Mr Downes said young people were essential to efforts to secure wildlife habitats and ensure the long-term sustainability of conservation programmes.
“A connected landscape cannot be secured by wildlife policy and protected areas alone,” he said.
“It also depends on young people who understand the living systems around them and believe they have the power to shape their future.”
Prof Gandiwa said the clubs will give children growing up alongside elephants and other wildlife an opportunity to develop solutions to conservation challenges affecting their communities.
The initiative builds on an environmental stewardship programme implemented by IFAW and ZimParks since 2019 in schools bordering wildlife areas in Hwange, Tsholotsho and Lupane districts.
Under the programme, the partners have donated 415 bicycles to learners travelling long distances through wildlife corridors and 12 500 textbooks to 23 schools in Hwange, Kusile and Tsholotsho districts.
The clubs will receive educational materials, mentorship and support for practical projects under IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative which seeks to reconnect wildlife habitats across eastern and southern Africa while supporting communities living alongside wildlife.
