Launch of the airport’s first canine team to detect illegal wildlife and wildlife products enabled through a partnership between the African Wildlife Foundation and the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) have partnered to establish a canine unit at Bole International Airport (BIA), Ethiopia’s…
Writes Admore Mbonda Kariba – Residents of Kariba are living in fear as baboons increasingly invade their neighborhoods, with some even making their way into the Kariba District Hospital, where they are stealing food from the wards. Residents report that baboons have become a common sight, particularly in the mornings, as they roam freely through…
The Thematic Committee on Climate Change visited local farmers in Southeast Lowveld yesterday to explore an innovative solution to the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict. The farmers have devised a method using chilies to create smoke blocks, which are used to safely and effectively scare away elephants. This practice significantly reduces the risk of…
…a lifeline for People, Wildlife, and the Economy The Pungwe River basin, shared by Zimbabwe and Mozambique, is rich in plant and animal diversity. However, the ecosystem is now under threat from human activities. In 2023, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) commissioned an Environmental Flow (EFlows) assessment to understand how the Pungwe River Basin…
In a significant move towards sustainable development and effective governance, Councilors from Bulilima District recently participated in a training workshop on natural resource management. Organized by Habakkuk Trust, the workshop aimed to empower Councilors with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage the district’s natural resources effectively. Through interactive sessions and expert presentations, participants gained…
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is participating in the second in-person conference of the Africa Protected Areas Directors (APAD) network, which started yesterday in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This pivotal event spanning from March 5th to 8th, has brought together directors of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) from across Africa to address pressing conservation challenges facing…
Mutoko-based Gohori Resort is emerging as an epitome of domestic tourism in line with a campaign introduced by Hon Barbra Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, dubbed “Uripi/Ungapi” which has seen locals developing interest in activities like safari, sight-seeing, and mountain climbing. Gohori Resort, the tourism landscape-changing rural-bush luxury resort, hosted a Zimbabwean…
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) announced the graduation of 31 fellows from the esteemed AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program. The program, comprising two components — the Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows and the Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship (CLMF) — aims to cultivate communities of skilled and connected…
The World Female Ranger Awards give international recognition to female wildlife rangers who have shown exemplary service and commitment to conservation. The World Female Ranger Award winner is Grace Kotee Zansi from Liberia. She is a biologist, elephant tracker and ranger actively involved with Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection, the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in Liberia. With more…
Holly Budge, Founder and Chairman of UK Charity, How Many Elephants, recently won a Gold Stevie® Award for ‘Woman of the Year in Non-Profit’ in the 20th Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, held in New York City. The Stevie® Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards. President, Maggie Miller, says, “In…
Writes Nhau Mangirazi Beekeeping is renewing forests in Zimbabwe as part of biodiversity aimed at community development, an official said last week. Zimbabwe Forestry Commission assistant entomologist, Leon Tshuma, made the remarks last week on Friday during a meeting facilitated by the Africa Wildlife Foundation on Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy report dialogue series on Opportunities for…
Prof Prosper Matondi, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has said wildlife plays a significant role in Zimbabwe’s biodiversity economy. He made the remarks while officially opening a workshop on wildlife economy in Harare yesterday. This year, the Government of Zimbabwe launched its first Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy Report. The report…
Holly Budge I’m no stranger to nail-biting adventures, having summited Everest and being the first woman to skydive Everest, but patrolling with female rangers across Africa has been a whole different beast. These women are bold, changing the game and paving the way for women to stand alongside men at the forefront of conservation, but…
Own Correspondent The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Zimbabwe joined the Zimbabwe and Zambia delegations for the tour of the Lower Zambezi Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Area (LOZAMAP TFCA), where AWF, in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, is implementing various conservation projects. The tour came just after the signing ceremony of the…
By Elvis Dumba Harare – Zambia and Zimbabwe have committed to strengthening cooperation that will improve protection for the environment and natural resources. The two countries signed a memorandum of agreement on the Lower Zambezi Mana Pools (LOZAMAP) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA). The signing ceremony was held in Harare a day after the continent celebrated…
As government spearheads Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme (SWMP) in Binga, there was a site visit to the arid district by the Secretary for Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Ambassador Raphael Tayerera Faranisi last week. Zimbabwe is a well-endowed country with flora and fauna and it is a sought-after destination because of all that it…
Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry yesterday met with the Secretary of State in the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection, Mr. Stefan Tidow at his offices in Berlin as part of the engagement and re-engagement drive. The Minister was accompanied by the…
By Elvis Dumba An adult woman is suspected to have been attacked to death by an elephant in a shocking incident of human-wildlife conflict. The suspected incident occurred on 7 December 2022 at the 321 km peg along Harare-Chirundu Highway at Nyakasanga Bridge. Her body was then devoured by hyenas with some pieces of her…
The awe-inspiring Matesti Victoria Falls has won the award for “Best for Off-grid Glamour” and has been included in the prestigious Tatler Travel Guide of the 101 Best Hotels in the World. The property joins giants like Stuart Cantor, Castles in the Air, Pioneer Spirits, Romance Revivers, Comfort and Ease, Golden Years, Rescue Remedies, and…
The Minister of Environment Climate Tourism and Hospitality Industry Zimbabwe Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu is lobbying for the inclusion of local communities as an important part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decision-making processes. He revealed this at the 19th meeting of the Conference of the…
By Nhau Mangirazi The government has been challenged to consult widely communities most affected by human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) before the endorsement of funding compensation announced by the cabinet last week. Members of Parliament whose constituencies are affected called for community input before endorsement of the funding. Mbire Member of Parliament Douglas Karoro said his constituency…
The critical issue of wildlife conservation issues has been brought to the fore on the international scene through the exhilarating yet educative Gonerezhou the Movie. The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu officiated at the premiere of the screening of Gonarezhou the Movie yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. In his…
The Ministers responsible for coordinating matters of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ( KAZA TFCA) from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Botswana met in Katima Mulilo, Namibia yesterday the 13th of October 2022. The Zimbabwean Minister Hon Ngobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu was represented by his Deputy Minister Hon Barbara Rwodzi. They met to reflect on how…
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their habitats. As part of the world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to natural processes. Zimbabwe is at the heart of conserving wildlife. Yesterday there was a meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (COSO) for Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA…
Real women, real stories and real impact; Spearheaded by international NGO, How Many Elephants, the pioneering World Female Ranger Award gives international recognition to a female wildlife ranger who has shown exemplary service and commitment to conservation. Purnima Devi Barman is a conservationist and biologist changing people’s perceptions of the Greater Adjutant Stork. Often referred to as a…
The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu has said the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) blueprint prioritizes a sustainable environment, tourism, and climate resilience, which anchor and underpin economic revival growth. He made the remarks at Leopard Rock Hotel in Vumba during the ministry’s strategic planning workshop meant to enhance…
The Tusk Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2022, third year in running, hosted over 100 ranger organisations from more than 20 African countries for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge 21km half marathon on 17 September, including elite field rangers from Zimbabwe. The Conservative and Wildlife Fund (CWF) and Painted Dog Conservation joined rangers around the pan-African Wildlife Ranger…
By Hillary Munedzi Despite Zimbabwe’s ambitious revised plan to clear all landmines by 2025 being handed a heavy blow by the removal of funding for undetonated landmines by the United Kingdom government, three nonprofit organizations are going against the odds by clearing dense zones of landmines laid by the Rhodesian regime. The overwhelming majority of…
Residents of Bikita District in the eastern district of Masvingo Province have expressed displeasure in the government’s move to relocate 2600 wild animals from Save Conservancy. The major concern of Bikita residents was that the stance should be done whilst reimbursing the district. Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) spokesperson Mark Mutengani called upon the…
Miombo woodlands are some of the most important and widespread woodlands in eastern and southern Africa across southern Africa. They provide food and cover for a diverse range of wildlife, including antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, lions, and some of the largest populations of elephants in Africa. Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Zimbabwean Minister Hon Nqobizitha…
Ahead of World Ranger Day on 31 July, Tusk lit up iconic London landmarks in a spectacular light display to celebrate the launch of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2022. World Ranger Day is dedicated to the Rangers of the world who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to be nature’s most devote custodians. It is…
The core around the Wildlife Economy is the transfer of the benefits to the communities, not only those adjacent to or around the protected and conserved areas, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Zimbabwe, Hon Barbara Rwodzi has said. She made the remarks on the 19th of July 2022 at the…
By Own Correspondent Environmental sub-committees from Bulilima District have been encouraged to safeguard wildlife resources in their locality. Speaking at a capacity-building workshop organized by Habakkuk Trust in collaboration with the Bulilima Rural District Council, the ZIMPARKS official Mr. Bekimpilo Mbewe urged environmental sub-committee members to be ardent stewards of wildlife living in proximity to…
As the World Female Ranger Week (June 23rd-30th, 2022) Spiked Online Media shines a spotlight on Nokuthul a ranger with Akashinga in Zimbabwe. Below, Nokuthula shares her story: When I heard that the IAPF – International Anti Poaching Foundation – www.iapf.org was looking to recruit female rangers, I thought to give it a…
World-renowned adventurer Holly Budge has launched the World Female Ranger Week (June 23-30th, 2022) to amplify the impact of female wildlife rangers on a global stage. This ground-breaking global awareness week, spearheaded by international NGO, How Many Elephants (HME) celebrates and supports female wildlife rangers – They’re bold, changing the game and paving the way for…
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), the Ministers of Environment for South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe met on 13 April 2022 to discuss various issues related to the collaborative management of this important cross-border conservation area. The meeting was held virtually and attended by Honourable…
By Joyce Mukucha recently in Darwendale The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry’s Climate Change Management Department is making concerted efforts in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons( HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to eliminate the production and use of these ozone-depleting substances as encouraged by the Montreal Protocol, a government official…
“Majestic, refreshing, epic, breathtaking, serene, soothing,” were the remarks by a group of tourists who spent time at the Wallow Lodge in Victoria Falls last week. Situated overlooking the Masuwe River, The Wallow offers an intimate safari getaway in the heart of a private concession within Victoria Falls National Park. “As a travel journalist, I…
Based on the study of environmental DNA cellular material released from living things into their surroundings, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday launched a project to protect and preserve biodiversity. This comes after the organization noted with concern that species are under threat so the project is also aimed at making…
On Friday 8th October, following a report of a possible poaching incident with GPS coordinates of a carcass, the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit lost its dedicated member Clever Kapandura and is commiserating with his family and acquaintances. As a response to the alert on the day in question, VFAPU deployed a team of anti-poaching scouts…
In these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, a good time out to relax is the pre-requisite for an escape from the troubles of life and one such rendezvous is the world’s best-kept secret, the Matetsi Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve. The Matetsi Victoria Falls is the realisation of John Gardiner’s family’s dream to marry…
By The Campaign for Nature Africa’s prosperity depends on preserving its vast natural wealth, yet the continent’s natural capital stocks are dwindling rapidly, concludes a new report released on 24 August 2021 by the German government. The report, one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of the strong links between Africa’s development and nature protection,…
In an unprecedented move to combat wildlife trafficking, Hong Kong’s lawmakers yesterday voted in favour of an amendment bill that means certain wildlife offences will, for the first time, be treated as Serious and Organized crimes. The Bill incorporates wildlife crime offences into Hong Kong’s Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455), providing additional/appropriate…
On World Elephant Day this year, on August 12th, Holly Budge, founder and leader of international non-profit, How Many Elephants, was among the impressive line-up of speakers at the global online event – ‘Elephants – from conflict to coexistence.’ Hosted by the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), over 20 speakers spanning four…
By Innocent Ferris Rupapa Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed our vulnerabilities even further and brought to light our broken relationship with nature. The same pandemic has pushed humans to forge new and better strategies for interaction and doing business. Travel restrictions and lockdown measures that have been imposed by nations across the world to…
