Sacred Zimbabwe game park falls prey to vandals, neglect
http://www.africasia.com

MATOPOS NATIONAL PARK, Zimbabwe, May 27 (AFP)

Ancient Bushman art peels off rock surfaces and endangered rhinos wander
through derelict fences as neglect threatens to rob Zimbabwe's Matopos game
park of its world heritage status.

Shillah Nyakudzi, wildlife manager of the UNESCO site, cannot suppress her
dejection as she points out a gap in the boundary fence between the Matopos
National Park and a neighbouring village.

"Not only is the boundary fence being stolen, but ancient paintings are not
spared either by lack of care and maintenance," Nyakudzi, area manager for
the 435 square kilometre (168 square mile) park, said.

"Matopos has now become porous as people are stealing the fence which is
supposed to provide a boundary."

The mystical Matopos Hills is a revered site where the Shona and Ndebele,
Zimbabwe's two main ethnic groups, have long held religious rituals amid
imposing ancient granite rock formations.

The San Bushmen also found their home among the precariously balancing
boulders and lifelike rock formations weathered by two billion years of
erosion, leaving some of the best rock art in Africa.

Zimbabwe's famous settler leader Cecil John Rhodes chose the silent grandeur
of the park as his final resting place.

It is rhino country, home to the endangered black and white rhino, while
some 200 rare black eagles make their home in the craggy rock outcrops.

However government neglect due to an ongoing economic and political crisis,
community and cattle encroachment, staff shortages, dwindling tourist
numbers and a lack of funds have hamstrung the national park.

"The rock paintings are fast deteriorating, they are peeling off. There is
need to preserve these otherwise we will lose that world heritage status,"
said Nyakudzi.

Bits of fence are stolen for scrap metal, and cattle from neighbouring
villages have wandered into the park for grazing.

Nyakudzi said some black and white rhinos "strayed 25 kilometres after
finding their way out through the broken fence."

"Last year we lost one black rhino outside the park while two died inside
the park because of the fencing problem," the parks manager said.

A new security fence around Matopos -- home to 17 black rhinos and 45
white -- will cost eight million dollars, she says, bemoaning the lack of
funding from both UNESCO and other aid organisations.

"Although we were listed as a UNESCO heritage site in 2003 there is nothing
we are getting from UNESCO," Nyakudzi said.

The area, listed as an intensified protection zone, has only 32 game
rangers, less than half the number needed.

"In a proper environment, a ranger must cover one to 10 kilometres yet right
now a ranger is covering 32 kilometers."

The creation of a government of national unity between long-time President
Robert Mugabe and his rival Morgan Tsvangirai has instilled hope that the
country's wildlife conservation will get some much-needed attention.

"Now that things have changed politically, I think that things will
improve," said Nyakudzi.

Environment minister Francis Nhema said the government planned to raise
money to repair the vandalised fence.

"We are trying to address the problem of fencing," Nhema told AFP.

"The major problem we have is that locals always want to herd their animals
inside the park as they are saying they have run out of grazing land."

"We just have to raise monies on our own, because organisations like UNESCO
are just voluntary organisation, they just provide funds when they have
some."

He said the shortage was being addressed, adding that governnment had
ordered that people who had abandoned their parks jobs due to low pay be
re-employed provided they do not have any criminal record. -AFP

What a pity. My wife and I love Matopos and always visit Rhodes grave. Took the kids there last time. It even affected them.

Love the balancing rocks.

A very special place, and home to some huge leopard!

Just more confirmation that nothing is sacred in Zimbabwe.

Except Bobbie Boy!

Country going to hell, rampant corruption, and it's UNESCO's fault...

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Country going to hell, rampant corruption, and it's UNESCO's fault...

Brad, that may be true, and I know that you do not intend to imply otherwise, but there are some fine people there who have demonstrated a incredible ability to persevere with tremendous grace under very difficult conditions. I really respect them. Based on the reports I get, things are improving albeit very slowly, but at least goods are returning to shelves, etc. My hat is off to the Zimbos.

There is plenty of blame to go around. Go back to 1888 and read forward from the Rudd Concession. There have been few heroes in Zimbabwe since King Lobengula of Ndebele.

quote:

There is plenty of blame to go around. Go back to 1888 and read forward from the Rudd Concession. There have been few heroes in Zimbabwe since King Lobengula of Ndebele.

I suppose that you can thank Cecil Rhodes and the British Government for that