THE government has commissioned two ranger houses at Matetsi Unit 5 in Hwange in a bid to strengthen conservation in the key wildlife area.
Zimbabwe through Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is strengthening efforts to conserve wildlife in the area which is part of IFAW’s room to roam priority landscapes.
The area is a critical migratory route for elephants moving between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park in Botswana which are both part of the KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Built under the IFAW-ZimParks co-management agreement, the houses will accommodate eight rangers and provide comfortable and secure living conditions for those tasked with protecting the Matetsi Safari Area.
In her remarks, Environment, Climate and Wildlife minister Evelyn Ndlovu applauded IFAW and ZimParks for prioritising ranger welfare.
“By investing in ranger welfare, the two organisations are doing more than just improving living conditions for our esteemed rangers. They are also enhancing our capacity to safeguard Zimbabwe’s treasured wildlife heritage and supporting government’s broader efforts to promote nature-based tourism, which is key to both conservation and sustainable development,” she said.
The ceremony also featured the handover of tents and uniforms. To date, IFAW and ZimParks, with generous support from Munchkin, have invested more than US$1 million in Matetsi.
According to IFAW, the funding has been used to strengthen law enforcement — including the purchase of two patrol vehicles — support for community-based conservation initiatives and alternative livelihoods while improving the ecological function of the landscape.
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“Matetsi is an important area for promoting elephant connectivity,” said Alleta Nyahuye, IFAW Zimbabwe director. “This is why IFAW and ZimParks work so closely to address key conservation challenges in this landscape. Our vision is one of resilience — where a thriving wildlife population delivers lasting benefits to local communities.”
IFAW is a global non-profit helping animals and people to thrive together and rescue, rehabilitate, release wildlife and restore and protect its natural habitats.
