Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has started reviewing its Elephant Management Plan (2021-2025) amid growing concern from local communities over the lack of benefits from wildlife conservation and rising cases of human-elephant conflict.
The review workshop, held in Hwange, brought together stakeholders from conservationists, the Government, academia and for the first time, five traditional chiefs from Hwange District.
Their presence marked a major turning point in consultations around elephant management, with the leaders raising tough questions on the tangible value of conservation to local people.
“Communities living side-by-side with elephants continue to suffer while the world praises Zimbabwe for its elephant conservation successes,” said Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo.
“We cannot talk about sustainability if the people bearing the cost of conservation are not benefiting.”
The traditional leaders lamented the worsening poverty in areas bordering protected zones and said there was rampant crop destruction, injuries and property damage caused by elephants.
They also called for the establishment of a relief fund to assist victims of human-wildlife conflict and demanded a fair share of revenues generated through conservation initiatives.
“We understand the frustration of communities and we are committed to ensuring that the new ten-year strategy will be more inclusive and community centred,” added Mr Farawo.
“Conservation is not just about animals; it is about people too.”
The review also laid bare the deep financial constraints hampering Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts.
Hwange National Park operates on a budget of under US$500 000 a year, a fraction of the estimated US$21 million required for effective management, based on comparative costs in similar ecosystems across Southern Africa.
“Elephant conservation in Zimbabwe remains severely underfunded,” said Mr Farawo.
“We are doing the best we can with limited resources, but we need broader support, both locally and globally.”
Although poaching rates have declined, largely due to increased partnerships and law enforcement, the country continues to face hurdles in unlocking funding from its vast elephant population, partly due to global trade restrictions on ivory and other elephant products.
Mr Farawo said the outcome of the review would inform the development of a new ten-year management plan, and urged all stakeholders to take part.
“This is a national issue,” he said.
