(Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by ZIMDAILY EDITOR)
HARARE – Almost two years after Cabinet discussed the establishment of a Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund (HWCRF), affected people in communities continue to suffer due to gaps in legislation.
In 2023 alone, more than 35 people were killed by wildlife and more than 80 were injured countrywide.
Responding to a question from Hwange East opposition MP Joseph Bonda on government’s policy regarding the compensation for communities living around Hwange Parks, who lost domestic livestock and human lives due to human wildlife conflict, Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said:
“On compensation to people who lose life, recalling Cabinet’s decision of 4th November, 2022 to establish a Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund, (HWCRF) to provide monetary relief to verified and proved victims of Human-Wildlife conflict.
“The current Parks Act does not have any provision of compensation of victims or the afflicted, hence the need to expedite the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, which provides for the establishment of the Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund.”