Engines and pump for Hwange

running of the park. Collecting the goods however, was not without its problems. “I am very reluctant to confess that I made two trips to South Africa to collect these spare parts because the first time I went, the parts were wrong and had to be returned,” said Johnny Rodrigues, the Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. “This was easier said than done because it involved obtaining permission from the Reserve Bank and Zimra to export the goods back to South Africa,” he said. With the drop in tourism and the economy spiralling out of control, Hwange National Park has become increasingly dependent on donations from various individuals and companies to keep it running. Rodrigues said he now had enough spare parts to get all of the pump engines up and running in Hwange. “The only cloud on the horizon is the shortage of fuel. We will have to ensure a steady flow of fuel to the park and we are trying to raise funds for this,” he said. – KJW