Work to review Parks and Wildlife Act commences
Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Ministry says work to amend the Parks and Wildlife Act has commenced with a team meeting in Bulawayo.
The Act is being amended to help balance the conservation benefits of wildlife and that of people who live with wildlife. Writing on its Facebook page the ministry said the meeting also involves Zimparks and the Attorney General’s office.
One of the outcomes of the meeting is a draft document that will be shared with the government for consideration.
‘’The efforts to amend the Parks and Wildlife Act has gathered momentum with a team involving the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimparks team, and the Attorney General’s office meeting in Bulawayo.
‘’The review of the proposed amendment to the Act follows several stakeholders’ consultations. The team is synthesized to come up with a draft to be put for consideration to the government of Zimbabwe.
According to the ministry, ‘’the legislative review process seeks to harmonise principles of sustainable utilisation of the wildlife through balancing conservation benefits with the needs and expectations of the people who live with wildlife,’’ read the statement.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry Munashe Munodawafa urged the team to align the Act to the Constitution of Zimbabwe. He also encouraged all the stakeholders to participate actively to ensure that the outcomes of reviewing the Act will be a piece of progressive legislation which will contribute to a vibrant economy.
Zimbabwe is blessed with a various of wildlife including the big five. Owing to its unmatched conservation programs Zimbabwe has an over population of elephants among other animals in parks dotted around the country.
Currently the government is trying to lobby CITES to be given authority to trim its herd of elephants that are resulting in the human and wildlife conflits. The conflicts have reportedly resulted in the death of both the people and the animals.
