IFAW Strengthens Conversation Relations In Zim, Injects US$50M

By Shingirai Vambe in Victoria Falls

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has this year, 2023 participated in the Victoria Falls Econet Marathon in support of the rangers working to protect the wild life community in Zimbabwe.

IFAW vice president, Jimmiel Mandima told the Post On Sunday Newspaper that his organisation has sponsored for 25 park rangers participating in the economy marathon as a way of motivation towards their work.

Mandima said besides motivation, the marathon race was of paramount importance for the rangers’ health as they are always going after poachers and managing wild animals of different behaviours in the park.

“We believe in healthy people and health ecosystems, and when we look at sport, it is part of what we all should be doing and because IFAW believe that people and wildlife thrive together, the event taking place this weekend fulfils our objectives of looking at the welfare of our rangers,” Mandima said.

“We were able to field only 25 rangers working in Hwange and Victoria Falls, these men and women are really aching to protect our national heritage, fighting with criminals in the bush and we are so excited to take part in this event,” said Mandima.

In 2019, IFAW signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife, injecting US$50 million towards development of the national parks, improving the welfare of rangers and wildlife.

Mandima told this publication that the partnership will see over 14,000 kilometres of the Hwange national park receiving rehabilitation and revamping with a target of spending US$2 million annual for the next 25 years as a sign of commitment.

he added and sold the new vision to reduce human wildlife conflict, by providing adequate water sources in the national park. Due to climate change, most water sources have lived their age, forcing animals to move into areas where people reside in search of water.

His promise to this nation is to restore the pride of the destination, holding the largest number of elephants in the world through this fund, to improving the welfare of rangers on top of what has happened so far, improvement of infrastructure within the park and minimising conflicts in Hwange National Parks.

“The IFAW agenda is to support the the ZIMPARKs in its agenda, doing things that have impact to the people and wildlife, need not 5 years but 25 years, that alone show the commitment we have in the project,” added Mandima.