adminAshley Mujoma
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Raphael Tayerera Faranisi, led a delegation from Zimparks, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Forestry Commission on a site visit to the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme (SWMP) in Binga.
The mission was organised to assess the progress and achievements of the SWMP in Binga’s Wards 3, 4 and 5, which are part of the Mucheni Conservancy.
The area is part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).
Speaking during the tour, Faranisi said Zimbabwe was a well-endowed country with flora and fauna and it was a sought-after destination.
“In this regard, wildlife conservation is a very important component as it protects the species by ensuring their survival and to educate people about how they can live in harmony with other species sustainably,” said Faranisi.
Ward 5 had its social centre rehabilitated and one borehole rehabilitated from manual to solar powered for use by the community.
Provision of water is critical for the support of livestock programmes and alternative livelihood. The borehole feeds into two 5 000-litre tanks and supplies water to the clinic and Nsenga Primary and Sinakoma Secondary schools.
Another borehole was drilled at Muplansi Rangers camp-site approximately 15km from the social centre.
Ward 5 also received 12 improved breeds of goat bucks (five Boer and seven Kalahari) of which 10 have so far sired 237 kids.
The bucks are being reared by community members across the six villages in Ward 5.
Bucks were also loaned out to other villagers for mating within the ward.
The SWMP is a seven-year international initiative funded by the European Union to the tune of $5.5 million to improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems.
The initiative started in 2018.
Online Reporter