Staff Reporter
Newly appointed Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) director general, Edson Gandiwa has pledged to take the institution to dizzy heights and become the global leader.
The renowned wildlife expert Gandiwa, succeeded Fulton Mangwanya, who was appointed director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year.
Prior to his latest appointment, Gandiwa served as director Scientific Services at ZimParks from January 2021 to January 2025.
“We will foster enhanced management and improve conservation effectiveness to allow for quality protection of the wildlife resource …
“We will focus on ensuring that all the Parks and Wildlife Estates, Gazetted forests, CAMPFIRE and private land are productive, protected and play a key role in wildlife conservation.
“Participatory land-use planning will be enhanced to optimise ecological connectivity and sustainable development. Also, implementation of the revised CAMPFIRE programme will be prioritised as this will assist in strengthening the role of communities as first line of defence in conservation whilst enhancing human-wildlife conflict management, habitat conservation, and growing the wildlife economy.
With over 20 years of experience in the fields of wildlife conservation, Gandiwa said he would continue from where his predecessor left in order to ensure wildlife conservation efficacy.
“Implementation and periodic review of ZimParks strategic plan, management plans (species, protected areas) and policies will be a priority in line with national dictates whilst benchmarking regionally to ensure our competitiveness and realisation of ZimParks vision that of becoming a world leader in wildlife conservation.
“We also look forward to the finalisation of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill as that will enhance and strengthen our conservation efforts in several facets,” said Gandiwa