Land
for
the
proposed
conservancy
has
already
been
identified
and
a
nine-member
committee
chaired
by
the
chief
has
been
set
up
to
drive
the
project.
The
committee
includes
local
headmen
and
key
stakeholders
as
well
as
a
renowned
conservationist
serving
in
an
advisory
capacity.
In
an
interview
with
CITE
in
Hwange
Thursday,
Chief
Nelukoba
said
the
initiative
is
at
an
advanced
stage
with
the
committee
scheduled
to
meet
officials
from
the
Zimbabwe
Parks
and
Wildlife
Management
Authority
(ZimParks),
including
Director
General
Professor
Edson
Gandiwa
in
Harare
next
week.
“This
is
a
community-driven
initiative
that
is
long
overdue.
We
have
already
laid
the
groundwork
and
what
remains
now
is
to
engage
with
ZimParks
to
finalise
the
operational
framework,”
said
the
chief.
The
conservancy,
believed
to
be
the
first
of
its
kind
in
Zimbabwe
will
allow
the
community
to
directly
benefit
from
natural
resources.
Under
the
proposed
model,
the
community
through
the
committee
will
be
allocated
fishing
and
cruise
quotas
at
the
planned
Gwayi/Shangani
dam,
ensuring
sustainable
utilisation
of
the
area’s
wildlife
and
water
resources.
Importantly,
proceeds
from
the
project
are
expected
to
fund
development
initiatives
both
locally
and
across
the
province.
“This
project
is
not
just
about
conservation.
Revenue
generated
will
be
channelled
towards
improving
livelihoods,
supporting
community
infrastructure
and
contributing
to
broader
provincial
development,”
said
the
Chief.
A
community
consultation
meeting
is
scheduled
for
March
19
at
Cross
Mabale
where
residents
are
expected
to
provide
input
and
shape
the
direction
of
the
initiative.
The
chief
highlighted
that
the
conservancy
is
also
a
direct
response
to
increasing
cases
of
human-wildlife
conflict
in
the
area
which
have
severely
affected
local
livelihoods.
“We
are
facing
serious
challenges
with
wildlife.
Since
the
beginning
of
the
year,
more
than
40
cattle
and
goats
have
been
lost
to
animals
such
as
lions
and
jackals,”
he
said.
Chief
Nelukoba
added
that
he
has
personally
suffered
losses,
underscoring
the
urgency
of
finding
sustainable
solutions.
“I
have
not
been
spared
either.
I
have
lost
livestock
myself.
There
is
a
dam
near
my
homestead
and
wild
animals
frequently
come
there
to
drink
but
in
the
process,
they
end
up
attacking
our
livestock,”
he
said.
Despite
the
challenges,
the
chief
urged
communities
to
adopt
a
balanced
approach
to
coexistence
with
wildlife.
“There
is
no
running
away
from
nature.
We
must
learn
to
live
together
harmoniously
with
wildlife.
Initiatives
like
this
conservancy
are
key
to
address
these
conflicts
while
ensuring
that
communities
also
benefit,”
he
said.
If
successful,
the
project
could
serve
as
a
model
for
other
rural
communities
across
Zimbabwe,
demonstrating
how
conservation
and
development
can
go
hand
in
hand.