The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirms that foreign poaching syndicates targeting elephants and rhinos in Matabeleland North are deeply intertwined with local networks, relying on Zimbabwean nationals as “carriers, information providers, or to harbour intruders.”
This reflects the complexity of the battle facing conservation authorities, where poverty and proximity to wildlife reserves can make community members vulnerable to coercion or bribery by deep-pocketed smuggling rings.
Responding to questions from CITE, ZimParks Director General (DG), Professor Edson Gandiwa, who provided a statistical snapshot of wildlife crime in Matabeleland North between 2020 and 2025, said the involvement of transnational criminal elements in the smuggling chain remains a significant threat.
He revealed that foreign nationals have been actively involved in moving the ivory product out of Zimbabwe. In 2024, three foreigners were arrested for smuggling ivory.
That number rose to five in 2025. In 2024, one foreign national was arrested in 2024 specifically for smuggling rhino horn.
This aligns with CITE’s investigation highlighting the role of international syndicates, including those from China, in exploiting Zimbabwe’s wildlife resources and exacerbating illicit financial flows out of the region.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/chinese-ivory-syndicates-worsen-zimbabwes-illicit-financial-flows/
In response to direct questioning regarding the operational methods of these syndicates, ZimParks stated unequivocally that foreign actors do not operate in a vacuum.
“Foreign poaching syndicates often collaborate with local networks. Locals are used as carriers, information providers, or to harbour intruders while foreigners provide financial incentives,” Prof Gandiwa said.
He said a total of six elephants poached between 2020 and 2025, while elephant poaching statistics in hotspot areas like Hwange, Binga, and Lupane have remained relatively low.
Despite the “significant decline” in poaching, the volumes of recorded ivory have been inconsistent.
“Most long packed ivory has been stashed in people’s houses due to challenges of readily available markets and due to global warming, mortality rates increases due to insufficient water resulting in the ivory to be picked by villagers and illegally traded,” said the ZimParks DG.
Prof Gandiwa also confirmed the ‘enemy within’ remains a challenge as internal records show that park staff have been implicated in poaching activities in recent years.
“Three staff members were arrested for poaching in 2020, one in 2021, one in 2022, and two in 2025,” Gandiwa said, noting that although details cannot be publicly discussed, “ZimParks has investigated cases linked to poaching, transport assistance, or information leaks.”
When asked what controls are in place to prevent ranger or park official collusion with foreign syndicates, Prof Gandiwa claimed rangers are “well incentivised.”
“They get patrol allowances and patrol rations. They are closely monitored and audited through lifestyle audits, and are always posted from one base to another, so that they may not get used to the same environment.”
Prof Gandiwa also mapped out the specific smuggling routes used in North West Matabeleland region, citing that Zambezi River was identified as a major transit point for ivory exiting Zimbabwe through Hwange, Binga and Victoria Falls while Limpopo River was also used in the southern part of Matebeleland.
Porous land borders and airports also feature prominently.
While no interceptions were recorded at airports in 2023, 2024 and 2025, land border seizures increased.
“North West Matabeleland region recorded one interception in 2023. Beitbridge border recorded one interception in 2023, three in 2024 and two in 2025,” said the ZimParks DG.
Regarding the financial architecture of wildlife crime, Prof Gandiwa said ZimParks works with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to trace suspicious financial flows linked to wildlife crime. When asked if shell companies or cross-border money-transfer systems have been identified as laundering tools, he acknowledged these mechanisms are under scrutiny, though they had no specific information on the Zimbabwean context.
To combat the transnational nature of the crime, Prof Gandiwa said ZimParks collaborates with neighbouring states, such as South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, through the SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching (LEAP) strategy and Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) initiatives.