Community rights and governance

The SWM Programme’s legal analysis contributed to the review of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill that has been passed as a new Act and will support the review of the Community-based Natural Resource Management Policy and alignment of the Forest Act and the Communal Land Forest Produce Act to the new Forest Policy. A key focus has been on providing for community conservancies, which devolve management of wildlife to communities. The SWM Programme Legal Hub is used in government veterinary training courses. Additionally, more than 200 people have been trained in conservancy-related legal matters.

Adaptive wildlife management

Wildlife management activities in the Mucheni Community Conservancy include:

• Resource monitoring: A robust monitoring system was established with 18 natural resource monitors who have completed hundreds of anti-poaching patrols.
• Wildlife translocations: Impalas, kudus, and zebras have been translocated to the conservancy, boosting wildlife numbers.
• Human-wildlife conflict mitigation: Farmer Field Schools are raising awareness and equipping communities with practical tools to reduce human-wildlife conflict. 

Healthy and sustainable supply chains and consumption

A major focus has been on enhancing livestock production to improve food security, increase household incomes and reduce wildlife poaching. A successful goat breeding programme, which introduced Boer and Kalahari Red bucks to the intervention area, has benefitted 3 800 households. Creating direct market linkages has been a game-changer. The SWM Programme successfully connected Binga farmers with the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, resulting in a landmark purchase of more than 700 buckets of tamarind, a transaction worth more than USD 7 000, directly channelling funds to the community. Other activities include finding new markets to sell livestock, rehabilitating dip tanks and races to improve livestock health and increasing honey production.

Zoonotic risk prevention and management

A community surveillance system is being set up to monitor zoonotic risks that could impact local communities, wildlife and domestic animals. This aligns with a broader effort to integrate a One Health community-based system of surveillance into the national animal and zoonotic disease surveillance system, coordinated by the Department of Veterinary Services and its partners.