Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in Mutare
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is spearheading a project focused on infrastructure modernisation and digital innovation to unlock tourism potential in communities in line with the devolution drive.
Speaking to Zimpapers on the sidelines of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo 2025 in Mutare, ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said the multi-pronged approach is squarely aligned with this year’s Expo theme, ‘Devolving Sustainable Tourism Development — Our Future’, positioning the country’s premier natural assets as engines for inclusive economic growth.
Mr Farawo said ZimParks’ central role is defined by a three-pronged approach — conservation, community empowerment and economic development.
The vision moves beyond mere wildlife protection to actively creating a sustainable and equitable value chain from tourism.
“As the custodian of Zimbabwe’s wildlife, ZimParks’ core mandate is to protect, manage and administer these assets,” said Mr Farawo.
He said sustainable resource utilisation is key while ensuring tourism generates revenue for conservation for future generations.
A significant pillar of this strategy is ensuring that the growth of tourism directly benefits communities living adjacent to national parks, fostering a sense of ownership and reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Mr Farawo made reference to several ground-breaking initiatives towards achieving this.
“ZimParks facilitates the devolution of tourism benefits to communities adjacent to parks. These include established curio centres in Matobo, Nyanga, Hwange, and Victoria Falls that provide a direct market for local artisans, as well as livelihood programmes like beehive projects and the harvesting of thatch grass,” he said.
The long-standing CAMPFIRE programme remains a cornerstone of this effort.
“CAMPFIRE devolved wildlife management powers to local communities, which then allows them to benefit economically. Through revenue-sharing mechanisms, 55 percent of the sum generated from trophy fees is channelled back to communities for self-determined infrastructure projects like schools, clinics, and water systems,” said Mr Farawo.
Looking forward, he said a revised Parks and Wildlife Act will further deepen this devolution.
“The revised Act will establish a Human-Wildlife Conflict relief fund to support victims and this review aims to devolve the Appropriate Authority further to the local level so that all decision-making powers will then rest with the communities,” he said.
The authority is also actively advocating for the establishment of community conservancies where locals take the lead in both consumptive and non-consumptive tourism activities.
On the infrastructure front, ZimParks, in collaboration with partners, is tackling historical hurdles like accessibility and outdated facilities.
Major upgrades are underway in key parks like Hwange, Mana Pools and Gonarezhou.
“A flagship project is the Hwange One Stop Pavilion, a new multi-use tourism complex at the main gate supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
“Furthermore, the rehabilitation of the 90km road linking Makona and Hwange Main Camp has significantly cut travel time,” said Mr Farawo.
“Several other roads are being upgraded. The vision is to thrive towards accessibility of most recreational parks by sedan vehicles, thereby promoting domestic tourism.”
Accommodation renovations are also a priority in parks like Nyanga, Gonarezhou and Matopos, while a drive to solarise facilities is already seeing success, with Rhodes Hotel now operating on 80 percent solar power.
Embracing the digital age, Mr Farawo said ZimParks is rolling out innovations to enhance the visitor experience and operational efficiency.
“An online booking platform, the Zimparks ICE reservations system, is at 90 percent completion and will allow clients to book anytime anywhere. To improve connectivity, Starlink has been installed in most parks and a partnership with the Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing is developing virtual park tours,” he said.
“For conservation, technology is a game-changer. SMART and Earth Ranger systems are being used for anti-poaching, wildlife tracking and veld management.”
Mr Farawo said the use of drones and NASA firms’ systems to track fires is also being implemented. He said these technologies have greatly improved wildlife detection thereby enhancing game viewing opportunities.
To differentiate its offerings, he said ZimParks is employing targeted marketing for the Eastern Highlands.
Nyanga National Park is promoted as a destination of mystery and diverse outdoor activities, featuring Mount Nyangani and the thrilling zipline at Mutarazi Falls.
Chimanimani is branded as a Hiker’s Paradise, targeting adventure travellers. Marketing tactics include hosting influencers and supporting event-based tourism like trail runs and mountain festivals.
