Let’s support Vic Falls dump fence project There are fears that more elephants could die from eating plastic at the dumpsite if the project continues at a slow pace
There are fears that more elephants could die from eating plastic at the dumpsite if the project continues at a slow pace

There are fears that more elephants could die from eating plastic at the dumpsite if the project continues at a slow pace

Jeffrey Gogo Climate Story
LOCAL environment charity organisation, Environment Africa, three weeks ago began leading a campaign to raise $50 000 to help build a solar-powered electric fence around the Victoria Falls dumpsite.

Driven into action by the death of eight elephants that ate too much plastic from the dump, the fund raising has progressed at a snail’s pace amid growing concerns several herds have developed a habit of scavenging for food at the dump at night, risking death.

A team of conservationists from Environment Africa, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, and others that visited the dumpsite around 1930 hours on March 21 told The Herald Business they saw about nine elephants foraging there.

The conservationists suspect that more and more elephants — an endangered species that also is a strategic economic resource for Zimbabwe, a huge tourism drawcard — make their way to the dump through the night, daily.

Last week I engaged Environment Africa chief executive, Charlene Hewat, to discuss the electric fence project, the existential human-wildlife conflicts and other wildlife conservation issues. Below is an excerpt of the discussion. I am represented JG and Mrs Hewat, CH.

JG: What is the update on your fund raising for the Victoria Falls dumpsite electric fence project? How much pledges (or actual cash) have you received to date? How soon were you planning to build the fence?

CH: The fundraising is slow but we have $2 000 cash and $6 000 in pledges. We are planning to start the fence this month and the fencing company, Barrett Electrics, has said we can do this in phases, which is great news. It would be great to get more people to donate.

JG: With eight elephants already dead from plastic consumption this year, there are fears the situation might actually be worse than previously thought. What factors are driving such fears?

CH: The other night we saw nine elephant at the dumpsite and they were all eating waste. So sad to see. The fear is that many more are going to die all because of our waste.

JG: Others, like the Victoria Falls Municipality, have dismissed as false reports of elephants dying from eating too much plastic at the city’s dump. Instead, they have gone on to accuse charities like the Environment Africa of sensationalising the issue. How do you respond to such allegations?

CH: I was surprised to hear that (because) the very people from the Victoria Falls Municipality are the ones we are working with. I had a meeting with the mayor on March 22 and brought him up to speed and invited him to come and see the site and the elephants.

Sadly, there are people who do not understand what is happening on the ground as the elephants come during the night. What all of us need to understand is that Victoria Falls is a town that falls within the National Parks and a World Heritage Site. It is, therefore, incumbent on all of us to take care of the environment no matter who.

Environment Africa has never sensationalised issues and, sadly, I think it is just some people within council who do not know what is going on. If I sensationalised issues then why did I ride a bicycle from the UK to Zimbabwe to help Save our Rhino some years back? We are still to this day losing rhino and my belief is that the elephant is the next target. Who knows if our children’s children will ever see a rhino in the wild?

JG: In view of this emerging trend in the death of elephants, how can wildlife conservation considerations be integrated into economic and environmental policies to reflect the monetary and non-monetary value of wildlife to further conservation of the same?

CH: Let’s just take tourism in Zimbabwe, (for instance). At the recent ITB Berlin Convention, Zimbabwe was awarded the best adventure destination. We have amazing wildlife and environment areas that the world would like to come and visit, and, therefore if we follow the vision of our Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, an amazing visionary for our country, economic growth through tourism, then we can make it.

Tourism contributes significantly to the Zimbabwe GDP and we will not be in a position to continue this growth if we do not protect the very thing that brings in the money. We need to keep and protect our wildlife and there are ways that the community can benefit from this. It is up to all of us to seek ways and implement them.

JG: How can protected area networks in the Victoria Falls be designed to increase the safety of wildlife, particularly, elephants, and to minimise the existing ungodly interaction between animals and the excesses of human civilisation?

CH: Human wildlife conflict is a reality. We humans have invaded their space and they are now suffering to find their way. (Yet), we both need to adapt, animals and people. We need to look at ways that we can work, live and survive in harmony with nature.

So, the electric fence is not ideal but it is the way forward as this will help keep the animals out of the waste we humans create. Environment Africa, through the Victoria Falls Green Fund, has launched a Keep It Clean Victoria Falls campaign in partnership with the Town Council.

We have youth groups working with the local councillors on the ground and have launched under this the Vic Falls recycling programme, which is going to be run by the youth. We have been getting support from retailers, hotels, business and the local community.

The youth started collecting plastic on March 22 and just in one day and at the very start of the project they had collected 60kg. This is a start and it also contributes to stopping plastic going to the dumpsite and being eaten by the elephant and dying.

The Vic Falls recycling project, however, needs help. Where is Delta Corporation? They came to the Victoria Falls some time back and to date have not done much. We need their support and it is our hope that they will support the youth programme with some start-up funding and a baling machine.

JG: What kind of information is required to enable the responsible authorities, both ZimParks and the Vic Falls municipality, to decide when and how to manage the wildlife that stray into the city to avoid animal deaths as we have seen from the dumpsite?

CH: It is not about information, it is about proper planning and management and this is what we are trying to do together with ZimParks and the Vic Falls Municipality.

The dumpsite is being looked at and (is being) turned into a proper landfill site. Hopefully, the Environmental Management Agency are going to come forward with some funds for this.

The Environmental Impact Assessment has been completed and there is a plan now in place which is exciting. The Vic Falls Municipality is keen to see things happen and sometimes it lacks the funding to do the work it needs to do and this is where we come in as partners and find joint solutions.

JG: The incidents that have killed eight elephants in Vic Falls show the kind of inherent negative impact that human economic development could exert on biodiversity. In order that we avoid committing ourselves to a future of reactive emergency responses like with the electric fence, how can authorities, the civil society and the public work together to deliver efficient responses?

CH: I do believe we are doing just this. The electric fence will go up but still there is need to reduce our waste going to the landfill and that is why Vic Falls Recycling project has started.

The Keep It Clean Victoria Falls Charters for Business, for organisations and homesteads is to be launched this month. So, the private sector, public sector and communities are forming partnerships known as PPCs as we move forward together and aim for Victoria Falls becoming Africa’s Green Destination.

Together we can make a difference and I have seen the steps being taken here on the ground and am encouraged that in a year’s time we will look back and say, we have done it together.

God is faithful.

[email protected].

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