BUSINESS REPORTER
A new modern era ranger station in Hwange National Park is billed to prevent wildlife crime and safeguard communities in the remote southern region of the iconic sanctuary.
The US$500,000 Makona base, which was opened on Saturday, is a milestone project of the US$5m five-year conservation agreement between IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and ZimParks.
It puts rangers at the centre of what was once a wildlife poaching hotspot.
Azzedine Downes, IFAW President, and CEO, said his organisation was “thrilled to celebrate this achievement together with ZimParks.
“It is a testament to a mutual, long-term commitment to protecting and preserving biodiversity, grounded in a partnership to deliver transformational change for people, wildlife, and the natural environment,” Downes said.
Fulton Mangwanya, Zimparks director-general, said: “The IFAW-ZimParks partnership has transformed a large part of Hwange National Park resulting in zero incidents of elephant poaching in the Makona area and the wider park over the last three years.”
First Lady and Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Wildlife Ambassador Auxillia Mnangagwa hailed the IFAW-ZimParks partnership for prioritising ranger welfare opened the Makona base.
“The infrastructural development of Makona Camp…will enhance the conservation and management of Hwange National Park to sustain the desired state of wilderness qualities and the resource values for then benefit of the present and future generations,” she said in a speech read on her behalf by Richard Moyo, Minister of State Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North.
Makona is now a fully-fledged permanent ranger base covering over 5000 km2 southern section of Hwange National Park that shares a long and open boundary with both community lands and neighbouring Botswana.
Including an office complex, operations centre, recreational facility, and 12 housing units accommodating more than 24 rangers and their families.
The Makona base is situated approximately 15 kilometers from the Tsholotsho community, which enables rangers to swiftly deploy to respond to incidents of human-wildlife conflict.
