Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
Tsholotsho Rural District Council has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) Zimbabwe to strengthen conservation efforts and address longstanding human-wildlife conflict.
The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week, establishing a collaborative framework for enhanced conservation outcomes in the district from December 2025 to December 2030.
The agreement focuses on supporting community engagement, law enforcement, securing habitat space, and implementing rescue, rehabilitation and release interventions.
The partnership comes as a relief to communities in Tsholotsho, which have historically borne the brunt of human-wildlife conflict. Situated near the expansive Hwange National Park, villagers have frequently faced crop raids, livestock predation and direct threats to human safety from elephants and other wildlife.
These incidents have not only caused economic hardship and loss of livelihoods but have also strained relations between communities and conservation initiatives.
The newly signed MoU outlines clear, actionable objectives designed to address these core challenges.
The project aims to enhance coexistence by directly mitigating human-wildlife conflict and improving community livelihoods, thereby fostering greater local tolerance for conservation.
It seeks to promote sustainable development through environmental stewardship and to secure land to ensure stable elephant populations, with benefits cascading to all species. A key component is reducing poaching threats by providing operational support and improving living conditions for ranger forces.
Furthermore, the project will ensure rescued animals are rehabilitated and given a chance to rejoin wild populations in secure areas.
Ifaw Country Director, Ms Alleta Nyahuye, hailed the partnership as a cornerstone for sustainable coexistence.
“To foster resilient communities and create a sustainable future where both wildlife and people flourish in the Greater Hwange ecosystem, Ifaw is actively forging strategic partnerships with local authorities and other stakeholders.
“Just last week, we marked an exciting milestone by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Tsholotsho Rural District Council, setting the stage for impactful conservation. Together, we will boost community engagement, strengthen law enforcement, protect vital spaces, and enhance our rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts,” she said.
Ms Nyahuye extended gratitude to Tsholotsho Rural District Council’s leadership.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Mr Ncube, the Chief Executive Officer of Tsholotsho RDC, for signing the agreement on behalf of the authority. With his commitment, we look forward to a brighter future where both people and wildlife can thrive together,” she said.
“As part of the broader objectives, we will, together, seek to enhance coexistence between people and wildlife by mitigating human-wildlife conflict and improving community livelihoods. We are pleased to announce that, as the 2025/26 farming season begins, we have agreed to implement human-wildlife conflict awareness campaigns in various wards across Tsholotsho District.”
At its core, Ms Nyahuye said IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative embraces community involvement as the key to conservation success.
“Therefore, IFAW works with people closest to the animals and habitats we strive to protect. With the signing of the agreement, we are confident we can nurture a thriving future for both people and wildlife,” she said.
The collaboration signifies a proactive, community-centred approach to conservation, aiming to transform challenges into opportunities for both ecological integrity and socio-economic development in Tsholotsho District.
IFAW, a global non-profit organisation, operates under a mandate to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing commercial exploitation, protecting habitats and assisting animals in distress.
Its work is guided by local customs and tailored to specific economic and political conditions.
