Chipinge Community Celebrates move to Curb Human-Wildlife Conflict

By Success Majaramhepo

Chipinge district has had challenges pertaining to human – wildlife conflict. This has posed a direct and recurring threat to the livelihood and safety of people in the community, and this has led to the persecution of wildlife and also the destruction of property and human life. People in the community have had their livelihood, security and wellbeing affected by the ravaging wildlife from the Save Conservancy.

This phenomenon became prominent after the Fast Track Land Reform programme that allowed people to invade farms for resettlement. However, there was no clarity on the status of the Save Conservancy in relation to the land reform programme.

“The greatest challenge we have right now is that people encroached into the conservancy and in the process destroyed the perimeter fence.” One of the game warden responded to us on condition of anonymity. “As we try to resolve the matter, what is still outstanding is the erection of the boundary fence. If we opt for the pre- land reform boundary, people will be found inside the conservancy and if we create a new boundary, the land size of the conservancy will be greatly reduced.”

A local youth and community development organization, Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) convened a public meeting in Chibuwe to appraise the community on the process that is being done to curb human – wildlife conflict.

In the meeting, PYCD director Claris Madhuku said that, “human and wildlife conflict have persisted since 2015 with the government taking very little formalities to solve the problem. Since there was no commitment from the government to solve the problem PYCD chipped in as a community-based organization. We saw that it was better to solve community problems as a community,”

In 2015, PYCD wrote a letter to the government, through the portfolio committee on Environment,Water,Tourism and Hospitality Industry highlighting the challenges being faced by the community and how their livelihood and security are under constant threat from marauding wild animals like buffalos, elephants and lions. In the same year, the former Minister of Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Oppah Muchinguri visited the area along the Save Conservancy and was appraised on 450 livestock that was lost by the people in the community. Her assurances of a solution to the problem never materialized. The 450 livestock were lost to lion and wild dogs attack.  

 “We went to Kariba, Hwange and Mahenye to see how the Campfire concept is being carried out and after the tour we lobbied the ward 20 councilor Mr Charles Mugidho to raise this in the council meeting. The councilor went on to have a meeting with environmental stakeholders to discuss the issue. As PYCD we are happy that our proposal for a Campfire concept has been adopted at the council level and there are chances that human and wildlife conflicts will be the thing of the past.” Said Madhuku.

When the Campfire’s adoption by the local authority was tabled before the community, the community was very receptive to the idea and happy to note that the challenge is being resolved locally.

“We are very happy to hear that there are moves to resolve the conflict between us people and wild animals. This community has suffered immensely from this conflict, and it is refreshing to note that a solution is on the way. We are indeed happy.” Catherine Vhutuza, a community member was ecstatic when she heard the Campfire concept being adopted.  

Councillor for Ward 20 Charles Mugidho applauded PYCD for their proposal saying they hope the Campfire project will help them to end this catastrophe.

“We thank PYCD for serving our community because we have lost our loved ones and our animals from lion, buffalo and elephant attacks. We talked to the government and Zimparks to help us as a community but it was a nightmare. As a community we hope that Campfire Concept will help us to minimize the bad effects of the conflict which has grave consequences for the farming sector,” said Mugidho.