ZIM ADOPTS NEW POLICY TO TRANSFORM WILDLIFE SECTOR

GOVERNMENT has approved the National Wildlife Policy aimed at aligning with emerging national, regional and international best practices to harness the vast opportunities within the wildlife sector.

The new policy is anchored on 10 pillars identified to enhance and guide strategic planning and implementation.

These include ownership and legal guardianship of wildlife; wildlife conservation in Parks estate; conservation of fisheries in the Parks estate; conservation of wildlife outside the Parks estate; conservation of indigenous wildlife and plant species; capture and movement of wildlife; viable wildlife economy; community-based natural resources management; human-wildlife conflict mitigation; and wildlife education, research and development.

In addition, wildlife corridors will be established and maintained while fisheries conservation will be promoted as part of water resources development, with penalties for violations which hamper resource sustainability.

Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the policy was presented by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning (CNDP).

“Government notes that the wildlife sector has been remarkably transformed since the enactment of the current Policy in 1992, and, therefore, the need for sustainable and innovative wildlife management and policy initiatives.

“The new Wildlife Policy aims to strengthen the contribution of the wildlife sector to national development through sustainable use of wildlife resources; and to enhance active community participation and thereby socio-economic benefits for present and future generations,” he said.

Minister Soda said the policy will enhance resilience to climate change and promote a vibrant wildlife-anchored economy in line with the broader Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy Initiative under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the country’s Constitution.

“The new policy fundamentally recognises wildlife as a public resource and, therefore, aims to promote access to equitable sharing of benefits; to support devolution; to harness public-private partnerships in natural resources development; and to promote sustainable transboundary conservation and ethical conservation practices, among other mechanisms.

“The policy provides for various wildlife management mechanisms, including new regulations for CAMPFIRE, and will address human-wildlife conflict and implement the approved Human -Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for the benefit of victims,” said the Information Minister.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also received and noted a report on the Lower Zambezi Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Areas (LOZAMAP TFCA) Ministerial Meeting, which was presented by Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu.

The meeting was held on April 10 in Harare.

At the signing of the LOZAMAP TFCA in May 2023, a commitment was made for the signing of a Treaty within five years between the two Heads of State of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Technical processes are now underway to ensure that the Treaty is considered in February 2027.

“Government notes that recurrent climate-induced floods affect critical infrastructure in the Lower Zambezi area, including access roads, bridges, and some operational facilities and the TFCA is expected to ameliorate these, given the lack of clarity on access to climate finances such as the Loss and Damage Fund.

“The establishment of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) is testament to Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional integration and the implementation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement,” said Minister Soda.

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