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Umfurudzi
under threat
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
March 16, 2005
  The
Umfurudzi Safari Area is a 75 000hactare wilderness area lying 160km
northeast of Harare. It was declared a Safari Area, in 1974, due
to its once pristine wilderness qualities and population of endangered
important wildlife species such as Black Rhinoceros and Roan Antelope.
It is also prime habitat for many other animals such as Sable Antelope,
Bushbuck, Leopard and Klipspringer to name a few.
Sadly since
1980, six species no longer exist there. These are Elephant, Black
Rhino, Waterbuck Roan Antelope, Eland and Lion. Although the habitat
is still intact it is under serious threat but if properly protected
this area could once again become home to all these species and
many more such as White Rhinoceros and Nyala Antelope.
Large tracts
of miomba forest, mopane, baobabs and 200 other species of tree
carpet the area together with large mountain ranges well watered
with river courses and covered in natural bamboo forests.
Unfortunately
this area is under serious threat from miners who are allowed access
into it. The greatest threat is from the Natural Stone Export Company
(N.S.E.C), which has extensive quarrying rights in the area. It
operates on the east side overlooking the Mazowe River and in it’s
quest for "Black Granite" has devastated a very large area turning
it into a "moonscape". As if that was not enough they have ordered
a 40-kilometre powerline to service their mine. This powerline will,
very unnecessarily in our opinion, cut, through 34 kilometres of
the park, going through the Hippo Pools Wilderness Camp area without
Environment Impact Assessment (E.I..A)or consultation with stakeholders.
A 15metre wide swathe (see attachment 1) has already been cut by
the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), destroying about
a million trees including several numbered specimens featuring in
the Hippo Pools identification booklet. These trees were singled
out for identification because of their size, beauty, age, species
and rarity. Some of the Mopani trees are so big that ZESA were not
able to chop them down so they are attempting to burn them down.
The negative
effects of the mining in the area could be partly offset by conservation
measures being supported by the N.S.E.C such as restocking with
suitable wildlife species, wildlife protection (by employment of
game scouts) and providing support for community eco-tourism projects.
To date N.S.E.C have neglected to offer this support although they
continue to prosper from it’s natural resources. (See attachment
2 - gaping holes left in the river system by gold prospectors)
Our other concern
is that the powerline cutting through the heart of the park will
encourage major mining development along it’s route and basically
destroy this popular area as a park. Since when is a distribution
power network, permitted to transverse a national tourist asset
such as this, destroying the very qualities it is preserved for?
Love, neglect
and rape
You
can do three things to a woman. You can love her and receive love
in return or you can neglect her even to the extent you watch her
being abused or raped, or you could rape her. If that woman were
"Zimbabwe" where would you fit in? Today in Zimbabwe there are many
instances of "rape" taking place.
This is done
by a small minority. The vast majority stand by and either do nothing
or make excuses.
Another small
minority, the lovers, do what they can, at great risks to themselves,
to limit the rape and abuse.
As an example,
the Umfurudzi Safari Area right now is being "raped". Some of the
authorities are not stopping, they are allowing the "rape" to proceed
and making excuses. Some, the lovers, are saying "Wait lets see
how this can be done less painfully".
A 34 kilometre
line has been cut through the woodland of the most important part
of the Umfurudzi. If stopped now the tree stumps on this line will
re-grow and in a few years the attempted "rape" will no longer be
evident. The "woman" will reward us with her love and adornments
(jewels in the form of herds of beautiful wild animals).
If the rape
continues the woman could turn ugly and give little. The choice
is ours in Zimbabwe to make.
If enough people
voice their concerns to the perpetrators and supporters of this
destruction, we may be able to save this beautiful wilderness. They
may be reluctant to proceed if they know the world is watching them
so we would be very grateful if as many people as possible could
email protests to the following addresses:
For more information
contact Wilderness Africa Trust wildernessafrica@zol.co.zw
or phone Bronte Hotel 730123 or 707522 ext 362
Visit the ZCTF
fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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