The latest development confirms how chaotic the government’s land reform programme was. The Chitsa people settled in Gonarezhou at the height of the land reform programme in 2002 and up to now they have been in the conservancy scuttling efforts by the parks and wildlife management authority to establish a rhino intensive protection zone.
Last year Masvingo provincial Governor and Resident Minister Willard Chiwewe said a committee had been set up to identify alternative land for resettlement of the Chitsa people. But a snap survey revealed that the province of Masvingo has been overcrowded already and chances are high that the desperate villagers would return where they came from before the chaotic land reform.
The authority has expressed confidence that the Chitsa people will this year be resettled as plans to establish an area for the conservation of rhinos are at an advanced stage.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Director General Dr Morris Mtsambiwa said “the removal of the clan has to be done so that the programme to protect the rhinos which are under threat from poachers can be expedited.”
Gonarezhou National Park is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park which is an initiative between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The project is aimed at promoting regional integration as well as enhancing conservation of wildlife resources. – Own correspondent
Post published in: News