The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo
In 2019, at least 36 people have been killed so far in human-wildlife conflict countrywide, an increase from the 20 people who were killed last year.
Dozens have been injured, while hundreds of domestic animals have also been killed.
Swathes of crop fields have been destroyed.
In short, thousands of people in communities are impoverished by wild animals, not to mention the permanent scars of losing their loved ones.
It is important to note that human-wildlife conflict cases were worsened by the El Nino-induced drought, which claimed the lives of nearly 200 elephants and many other animal species this year.
Since January, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has received 311 cases of wild animals encroaching into human settlements countrywide, compared to 195 in 2018.
As the year comes to an end, spare a thought for Elisha Kawara’s young mother, who had to be content with burying her two-year-old son’s head after he was attacked by a pack of hyenas in Mbire (Mashonaland Central).
Spare a thought for Mrs Musiwacho in Bocha (Manicaland), who was widowed; and the young children who were orphaned after their father was trampled to death by an elephant.
They are many other victims of human-wildlife conflict in Southern Africa.
Climate change and human-wildlife conflict is real. To communities in Chobe (Botswana), who had to abandon cropping as it was being destroyed by elephants every year, the problems are real.
Unfortunately, there are discrepancies on how tourists and some people from the West view wildlife. Communities who share borders with these animals view them differently.
For a tourist, an elephant is a gentle giant, but for communities desperately trying to protect their crops, they are a pest.
Therefore, communities need to be involved in decision-making when it comes to wildlife management.
Communities often bear the brunt of sharing borders with wildlife, yet decisions are made by people sitting in air-conditioned offices in London, New York and many other European capitals.
The fight against poaching or illegal wildlife trade should undoubtedly involve communities if it is going to be successful.
In fact, communities who share borders with wildlife are stockholders in the wildlife business.
Also, the fight against poaching and protection of the country’s natural resources must empower communities, who are the first line of defence.
Illegal wildlife trade has become a global security threat, hence the need to involve communities that share borders with most of these natural resources.
Over the last few years, the United Nations General Assembly has been among those paying more attention to wildlife crimes.
However, such efforts will come to nought without the involvement of communities.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states and their respective law enforcement agencies are increasingly focusing on wildlife trafficking.
Within SADC, there are six Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) that are meant to sustainably manage natural resources within the region.
Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA), Greater Limpopo and Greater Mapungubwe are some of the TFCAs that are currently operational.
Three others are at various stages of development. Within TFCAs, joint anti-poaching patrols are a cornerstone in wildlife protection. In Zimbabwe, poaching has significantly dropped over the last few years.
For example, in 2016, Zimparks recorded 35 cases of armed contact with poachers, while last year only nine cases were recorded.
Incursions have also declined from 720 to 320 in the same period.
Arrests have similarly dropped from 718 to 300. And this is a result of involving communities in the fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
In instances where arrests were made, cases were expeditiously dealt with, as Zimparks is working closely with the Judiciary and State agencies.
A plethora of protective and regulatory measures have been put in place to deal with rhino poaching.
Accordingly, poaching of this endangered animal halved to 15 last year.
One way of effectively dealing with wildlife crimes is to ensure that communities are benefiting from the natural resources.
The important role of communities in protecting and managing natural resources is beginning to become a policy prerogative in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe included.
Sadly, communities remain largely excluded from decision-making and conservation efforts.
Involving locals is a sure way of winning the war against poaching.
Disproportionately putting emphasis on animals than people seemingly implies that the former is more valuable than the latter.
Suffice to say, locals need to materially benefit from their natural resources.
The ongoing formulation of the stand-alone human-wildlife conflict policy is one such attempt to create functional space to involve communities in the management of these resources.
Since 2016, at least 1 746 people have been arrested for poaching, and the majority of these suspected poachers come from the communities, so it is perhaps not surprising that some people who struggle to make ends meet are tempted into poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Overall, communities are increasingly vulnerable to organised crime networks and illegal wildlife trade.
Research has shown that broad-based community empowerment is important in fighting poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
It is indisputable that one sure way of sustainably using our natural resources is to create happy communities that benefit from wildlife and live in harmony with nature.
Tinashe Farawo is the head of communications at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. He can be contacted on [email protected]
