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Hwange crisis update
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
February 07, 2006

We would like to thank all the very generous individuals and companies who donated funds, tools, equipment, oils, tyres etc to assist in the recent water crisis in Hwange National Park.

For the information of the donors, I was unable to obtain a truck at short notice to deliver all the goods to Hwange but we crammed as much as we could into my private vehicle and made a delivery to Sinamatella last week. We will take the balance of the donations to Hwange on our next delivery.

The following goods were delivered: 12 tyres, 40 litres engine oil, 2 Batteries, 40 fan belts, 5 litres glue, 1 bag cement, 2 side cutters, 4 deshackles, 1 pipe bender, 1 pipe wrench, 3 axe heads, 3 pick heads, 2 rolls emery tape, 2 chipping hammers, 2 snatch blocks, 1 coil rope and 75 hacksaw blades.

We are very relieved to report that Hwange National Park now has water in abundance due to the record rains. The park is now lush and green and the wildlife is no longer queuing for water.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK - January 2006		HWANGE NATIONAL PARK - November 2005

During this wet season, it is not necessary to pump water into the pans so we are using this temporary respite to ensure that there is no repetition of the water crisis we had last year. In order to keep the pans full all year round, the engines will have to start pumping water again in April this year because the pans are shallow and dry out very quickly once the rains stop.

We are currently working on assisting National Parks by ensuring that all their vehicles in Hwange are functioning so that by the time the rains stop, they will be able to effectively maintain the engines and pumps. We also need to ensure that all the pumps and engines are in working order and we are planning to repair the cement troughs, repair the roads in the game park and clean out the pans. We anticipate completing these projects by June this year.

If anyone can help in any way, please email the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. Further contact details are below. We would be most grateful for any assistance.

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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