Zimbabwe signs wildlife conservation partnership with ifaw

(Harare, Zimbabwe – 30 September 2019) – The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) today announced a ground-breaking partnership to enhance wildlife conservation in key protected areas in the country. The international non-governmental organisation and ZimParks will be working together in the Hwange-Matetsi ecosystem covering the iconic Hwange National Park, Zambezi NP and Victoria Falls NP, a designated UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and adjoining community areas.

“This historic conservation partnership between IFAW and ZimParks represents a fundamental step for the advancement of wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe, a nation with striking species richness which has ascribed tremendous importance to its tradition of conservation,” said Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW. “By both including and ultimately empowering local communities within the critical dialogue of conservation, together we are laying the groundwork for long-term, sustainable management of this key geographical area which houses some of the world’s most abundant wildlife and natural resources.”

“ZimParks is fully committed to making this partnership work, and to pursue the path of sustainability, tapping into our strengths as partners, shaping our experiences, exploring innovative conservation models to achieve a shared vision. We look forward to working together in collaboration with IFAW in one of our most cherished conservation landscapes in Zimbabwe, which is also part of possibly the largest conservation area in the world - the KAZA TFCA. It should never be business as usual, together we can achieve more!,” said Fulton U. Mangwanya, Director General ZimParks.

The new partnership spans a variety of conservation objectives that will include to the development of on-the-ground law enforcement capacity to protect wildlife populations from poaching and working with communities to prevent human-wildlife conflict.

“We prefer to take a practical, solutions-based approach to ensure that humans and wildlife are able to live harmoniously. This includes promoting a landscape approach to develop management , land use and alternative livelihood strategies that secure key habitats and enhance connectivity of critical elephant populations in the wild,” said Jimmiel Mandima, IFAW’s Deputy Vice President for Conservation at a ceremony held in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

IFAW recently appointed Phillip Tapera Kuvawoga, as Programme Director for Landscape Conservation. Kuvawoga, a Zimbabwean national, works from Harare, and will focus on leading IFAW’s global landscape conservation work and, manage the implementation of on the ground projects, including but not limited to habitat security, community livelihood interventions and research.

IFAW works in more than 40 countries, to rescue and protect animals and their habitats, for a world where animals and people can thrive together.

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) - The International Fund for Animal Welfare is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org

Press Contact:

Christina Pretorius

+27 (0) 82 330 2558,

cpretorius@ifaw.org