A new housing project for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) staff is nearing completion, marking a major milestone in a wider infrastructure modernisation programme aimed at strengthening conservation management and improving living conditions for frontline wildlife personnel.
Backed by an investment of more than €460 000 from the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the project is replacing sub-standard accommodation with modern housing facilities and is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Site Manager Ms Sibahle Gumede said construction is in its final stages, with work now focused on finishing touches and utility connections.
“We have three houses that we are constructing right now out of the 10. Those houses are semi-detached and are staff houses for the ZimParks staff. We started our project on September 4, 2025, and our expected finish date is June 30, 2026.
“The outstanding phases that are left are electrification and water works. We are also working on interior and exterior painting, as well as ceilings,” she said.
The housing development forms part of a broader package of conservation and community infrastructure projects supported through the KAZA TFCA partnership.
ZimParks Director-General, Edson Gandiwa, said the partnership has already delivered significant improvements in both conservation and community development.
“We have been supported with infrastructure development and are currently working on a 10-ranger unit accommodation project, which will accommodate 20 families. We also have the Hwange One-Stop Pavilion, which is almost complete.
“In community development, we are ensuring there is a balance between conservation and development. We have received support for projects such as the rehabilitation of Maitengwe Dam, and additional funding is expected following challenges caused by the recent rains,” he said.
The infrastructure drive also includes the provision of law enforcement vehicles to strengthen efforts to combat human-wildlife conflict and enhance wildlife protection.
Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Eveline Ndlovu, said improved accommodation would boost ranger morale and strengthen conservation outcomes.
“Our workers are at the centre of conservation efforts, and when they are empowered and supported, they deliver better results. Improved living conditions will enhance ranger performance, strengthen the protection of our natural resources and contribute to reducing poaching by encouraging greater commitment to duty,” she said.
Dr Ndlovu added that Government intends to replicate similar developments beyond KAZA conservation areas while improving infrastructure such as roads and schools within transfrontier conservation zones.
KAZA TFCA Executive Director, Nyambe Nyambe, said the project demonstrates the regional conservation bloc’s commitment to developing world-class infrastructure that supports both environmental protection and community development.
“This speaks to one of the pillars of KAZA TFCA, which is to provide high-quality infrastructure. Zimbabwe has demonstrated very well how a local contractor can deliver a high-quality output. By the time we conclude this project, we will be talking about €461 000 invested in infrastructure that contributes to both conservation and development outcomes,” he said.
The housing initiative is part of a broader regional strategy to improve operational standards across KAZA TFCA’s five member states, while Zimbabwe plans to use the model as a blueprint for upgrading infrastructure across its wider national conservation network.
