Group photo of delegates who attended the Transboundary Intercommunity Exchange Forum
SOUTHERN Africa Development Community (SADC) Transboundary Intercommunity Exchange Forum that began on Monday and shall end today (Friday) at Nsimbirhi Conference Centre and Great Limpopo Cultural Village at Muhlanguleni in Chiredzi has deliberated on Human-Wildlife Conflict.
Delegates have identified elephants, crocodiles, hyenas, lions and buffalos as wildlife at odds with humans in areas which include water points, grazing areas and fields. Deliberations have been done on how the compensation should be done, to who and what levels.
The forum has also helped the region to jointly plan development of tourism in Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), increase cultural integration in the sustainable use of resources and integrate indigenous knowledge and culture in the conservation of natural resources.
The Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair has been identified as a model trans-frontier initiatives that can unlock sustainable macro-economic value in the region.
In his speech, the Principal Director in the ministry of Local Government, Mr Christopher Shumba encouraged SADC communities to manage their natural resources wisely in order to bring development in their respective areas.
Said Mr Shumba: “When the Government of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa signed the Great Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Areas in 2002, most of the citizenry living within the TFCA thought that development had really come to their door steps.
“Little did they realise that it was going to be done by themselves to champion their own development agenda. Of course the coming in of the Great Limpopo TFCA is a window for communities, empowered by the governments, to craft sustainable livelihoods for themselves.”
Chief Sengwe was guest of honour. Principal director in the ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Dr Biggie Samwanda also attended the Forum.