Farmers benefit from campfire proceeds

From Austin Nyathi in Beitbridge

THE Beitbridge Rural District Council has handed over about US$6 000 to newly resettled farmers at Tshivhombwe in the Nottingham area, about 40km west of the border town, for community projects. The money is part of the Communal Areas Management Programme For Indigenous Resources for 2008.



Speaking during the handover ceremony, the council’s chief executive officer, Mr Albert Mbedzi, commended the Tshivhombwe community for their efforts in conserving wildlife, saying it was the only way the country would benefit from its resources.
“We would like to commend the community of Tshivhombwe for playing a leading role in protecting our wildlife within their area and we encourage other neighbouring communities to emulate this as these natural resources are important as they benefit our country at large,” he said.
Mr Mbedzi expressed concern over rampant poaching activities in the district and called on the local communities surrounding the affected areas to help contain the situation.
He said council in conjunction with local safari operators has launched an anti-poaching exercise to curb the practice.
“We have also embarked on an awareness campaign to educate our people on the importance of natural resources, particularly wildlife, which are a key element in promoting tourism,” said Mr Mbedzi.
Beitbridge district has been sub-divided into three hunting concession areas, which include Pingwe, Beitbridge West and East areas and each of the areas has a safari operator. Mr Mbedzi said the Tshivhombwe community on whose behalf the council was managing their conservation area, was the first group to benefit from the CAMPFIRE funds following the introduction of the multi-currency system in the country. The local authority realised a total of US$60 000 from the hunting concessions in the district last year, but only US$28 000 went to the council under the CAMPFIRE project after 45 percent of the money was paid to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in line with the Government regulations at the time.
The remaining money will be shared among six other communities in the district, which include Tshabili, Chicualacuala, Maramani, River Ranch, Sentinel, Masera and Chaswingo.