A 1 million grant from the Postcode Lottery will bolster wildlife rescue efforts, ranger capacity, and migration corridor protection in Zimbabwe’s Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi landscape.
Zimbabwe’s premier wildlife landscape is poised for a significant conservation infusion following the announcement of a €1 million (US$1.2 million) grant aimed at fortifying habitat protection and wildlife security across the sprawling Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi region.
The funding, provided by the Postcode Lottery Group, will bolster ongoing initiatives led by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). The investment is expected to amplify rescue operations, expand ranger capacity, and safeguard critical migration corridors within and around Hwange National Park, a vast 14,600 km² ecosystem that serves as a cornerstone for southern African biodiversity.
The landscape is a critical refuge for over 45,000 African savannah elephants, alongside dense populations of lion, leopard, and endangered wild dogs. The new funds arrive at a crucial moment, as conservationists work to balance the pressures of human-wildlife coexistence with the need to maintain ecological connectivity in one of the continent’s last great wilderness areas.
Since 2019, IFAW and ZimParks have collaborated under the “Room to Roam” initiative to secure this vital ecosystem. Alleta Nyahuye, IFAW Zimbabwe Country Director, emphasized that the grant represents a continuation of hard-won progress.
“Over the past six years, the IFAW-ZimParks partnership has managed to tackle some of the pressing conservation challenges in and around Hwange,” Nyahuye said. “With this contribution from the Postcode Lottery, we can expand our work and continue building a future in which people and nature can live safely alongside one another.”
The partnership has long focused on a holistic approach, recognizing that the survival of Hwange’s wildlife is intrinsically linked to the well-being of the communities living on its borders. The new funding will enhance rapid-response units that handle human-wildlife conflict incidents, ensuring that both farmers and roaming animals are protected.
For the Postcode Lottery Group, the donation reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship driven by its participants. Jonne Arnoldussen, Managing Director of the Postcode Lottery, noted the collective impact of the organization’s funding model.
“Thanks in part to our participants, IFAW can continue and strengthen this important work in Zimbabwe,” Arnoldussen stated. “Together, we are contributing to a world in which people and nature can live in balance.”
ZimParks Director General Professor Edson Gandiwa expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting its alignment with national priorities. He noted that the investment not only aids in safeguarding the nation’s natural heritage but also builds resilience for wildlife and the human populations coexisting with them.
“We are grateful to our partners for this support, which we believe will help us safeguard our treasured wildlife resource and build resilience for wildlife, habitats, and the people coexisting with wildlife in the greater Hwange ecosystem, in line with Zimbabwe’s national development agenda,” Professor Gandiwa said.
The grant arrives amid growing global attention on the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), of which Hwange is a vital component. Conservation experts view the targeted investment in ranger capacity and migration corridors as essential to maintaining the genetic flow of species across international borders, ensuring the long-term viability of the region’s ecosystems.
