Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Government, in partnership with German wildlife conservation organisation, Aware Trust, has commissioned projects worth US$382 643 at Chipinge Safari Area.
The projects were commissioned this morning by Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu who was represented by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Director-General, Professor Edson Gandiwa.
The projects include a 50km game fence valued at US$283 000, a US$36 000 staff house, a US$20 000 ranger patrol base and improvements to the main office worth US$7 249.
Kondo Primary School also benefited from a US$30 000 project that included 100 desks and 100 chairs, roofing and other improvements.
In his welcome remarks, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza who was represented by the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge, said the projects are expected to strengthen wildlife protection and support nature-based tourism, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy.
He also said human-wildlife conflict will also be reduced as a result of the projects.
“The innovations that have been commissioned, will go a long way towards reducing the human wildlife conflict particularly in this area,” he said.
Minister Mugadza also said more should be done towards mitigating the effect of our human-wildlife conflict among communities.
“One way that will certainly assist would be to enhance necessary education about the only the behavior of wildlife and what communities can do to relate productively and safely to wildlife which is found in their areas,” he said.
