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ZCTF update on vehicle spares for Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
May 21, 2006

The balance of the Landrover spares, valued at 159 million ZWD, donated by the Hwange Conservation Society (UK) arrived on British Airways recently and we delivered these to Main Camp in Hwange National Park. With regard to the customs duty, this was paid initially by the Save Foundation of Australia but has subsequently been refunded by National Parks. We do feel, however that National Parks should reclaim this refund from Zimra. With the permission of the Save Foundation, part of this refund has been used to purchase 9 V belts for some of the pump engines and these have also been delivered to the park. The V belts previously donated by J Mann are the wrong size for some of the engines so it was necessary to purchase a few more. An inventory of the items delivered is attached.

It is very encouraging to see how concerned the local African people are about the preservation of the animals in Hwange National Park. Hwange Colliery, together with the Hwange community have formed their own anti-poaching unit. They are asking for assistance with uniforms, supplies etc. (See list below). We feel it is very important to help them because their work is voluntary and they don't have funds to buy what they need.

Still on the subject of anti poaching, Martin Stiemer set up his own anti poaching unit in 2001 in Hwange, built a camp and trained 17 men who now form his anti poaching unit. Apart from the newly formed Hwange Colliery anti poaching unit, Martin's anti poaching team is the only one in the park and over the past 5 years, they have removed literally thousands of snares from the bush, freed many animals from snares and arrested several poachers. Martin's work is voluntary and he desperately needs funding if it is to continue. His presence in the park is vital to the preservation of the wildlife. He has saved thousands of animals from a painful lingering death and if anyone would like to sponsor him, please contact us.

Thanks to all the support we have received from the Hwange Conservation Society (UK), the Save Foundation of Australia and numerous companies and individuals, there are now 6 Landrovers running, the tipper in Robins camp is back on the road and National Parks are doing a great job grading the roads.

Thanks also to the Friends of Hwange and Mario Gomes who is looking after 10 pans in the Main Camp area. He is doing a sterling job and has managed to get water pumping at 5 pans. He has also repaired the windmill at Kennedy 1 which will take over the pumping on windy days, thereby saving fuel.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the Sinamatella and Robins Camp areas and we would appreciate any assistance we can get.

If possible, we would like to install windmills as well as pump engines at all of the pans. The windmills would be connected to the engines in such a way that when the wind blows, the windmill will automatically take over from the engine and visa versa. Although this will initially be expensive, it would save fuel which is not easy to come by. Our main aim is to prevent a repetition of the water crisis in 2005.

Most of the pipes which carry the water into the troughs adjacent to the pans have a build up of calcium preventing the water from flowing efficiently and these pipes need to be replaced . We also need a centrifugal pump to suck the silt out of the pans. In some cases, the silt is up to 5 foot deep which creates a potential death trap for the animals and in addition to this, the pans are not holding their full capacity of water.

The cement troughs are in a poor state and if we manage to raise enough funds, we would like to refurbish them completely, strengthening them with re-inforced concrete to prevent the elephants from breaking them.

The following is a wish list of items required to assist Mario with his 10 pans, to assist us with the rest of the park and to help the Hwange Colliery anti poaching unit. If anyone can help with funds or anything at all, no matter how small, it would be greatly appreciated.

Anti poaching unit

• 7 sleeping bags
• 7 tents
• 14 guards' uniforms (green)
• 7 pairs protocol boots
• 7 pairs stockings
  

Pump attendants

• 50 pairs overalls
• 50 pairs gum boots
• 2 way radios
  

Troughs

• 10 tons cement
• 30 cubes 3 quarter stone
• 50 x concrete shuttering (good second hand)
• 200m concrete reinforcing mesh
• 2000m reinforced steel rods
  

Pans

• Windmills and windmill gearboxes
• Centrifugal pump

Pumps and engines

• 600 x 3m lengths 16mm drive shafts and couplings for water pumps
• 600 x 50mm bobbin bearings
• 40 x 50mm (inside diameter) column to bore casing stabilizers
• Rotor starter starter pump sets BH 30 or complete pump
• Monostroom MK2 head complete
• 60 x V belts 17 3700 B144
• 300 x 6m lengths 250mm steel water pipe
• Angle iron, piping and asbestos sheeting to build engine shelters
• 100kg 10 or 12 gauge welding rods
• 75mm, 70mm and 50mm steel bolts (rough thread), lock nuts and washers (12mm)
• Hour meter
• Rev counter
• 50m fuel piping
• 3 x torque wrenches
• 1 drum bitumen
• Ant kill
• Grease
• Oil
• Welding machine
• 1000 litre plastic cylindrical fuel tanks
• 50 x 210 litre empty drums
• Oxygen/acetylene

Vehicles

• 12v batteries
• brake fluid

Tyres and inners

• 50 x 750 x 16
• 30 x 900 x 20
• 21 x 1000 x 20
• 21 x 1100 x 20
• 10 x 1200 x 20
  

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force

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