The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is intensifying community-level intelligence systems to tackle poaching before it happens, especially in high-risk areas bordering protected wildlife zones.
ZimParks Acting Public Relations Manager, Tamirirashe Mudzingwa, said the authority has adopted a multi-layered prevention strategy that places communities at the centre of wildlife protection.
“We are strengthening community collaboration because local people are our first line of defence,” Mudzingwa said.
“Regular feedback meetings allow us to build transparency and trust, and they help us gather information that can stop poaching before it even takes place.”
Mudzingwa said ZimParks is rolling out extensive education campaigns to shift community attitudes towards conservation.
“We continue to raise awareness on the benefits of wildlife conservation compared to the destructive impact of poaching,” he said.
“These programmes target schools, youth groups and community centres so that knowledge is passed across generations.”
In addition, he said that the authority has strengthened rapid response mechanisms, including the Zambezi Valley Reaction Unit (ZAVARU), which conducts both terrestrial and aquatic patrols.
ZimParks is also training community scouts.
“In some districts, anti-poaching scouts are being enrolled at the Zimbabwe Institute of Wildlife Conservation to undergo basic paramilitary and intelligence-gathering training,” Mudzingwa added.
“This equips them with skills to detect early signs of illegal activity.”
Mudzingwa said ZimParks is increasingly integrating drones, GPS tracking and real-time surveillance systems to improve monitoring.
“Technology is now a vital component of our operations,” he said.
“It allows us to patrol vast areas efficiently and detect suspicious activity early.”
The authority is also working with conservation partners such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other NGOs.
“These partnerships enhance our capacity by providing training, equipment and operational support,” he said.
To support early reporting, ZimParks has established community hotlines for residents to report illegal wildlife activity.
Meanwhile, commentator Effie Ncube said awareness programmes alone are not enough without tangible community benefits.
“More still needs to be done to ensure communities see the importance of protecting wildlife,” he said.
“In many areas, there is hardly any wildlife left and that cannot be acceptable.”
He addedtcommunity participation will only grow if people see practical benefits.
“Unless communities benefit from the flora and fauna around them, they won’t see the need to preserve them,” Ncube said.
“Awareness programmes should work together with CAMPFIRE and other benefit-sharing initiatives.”