By Own Correspondent- Environment minister Prisca Mupfumira has revealed that Zimbabwe risks increasing human and wildlife conflict due to the increased population of elephants in the country which is way above the recommended country’s carrying capacity.

She said the country has the capacity to carry an estimated 50 000 against the current 84 000.

Said Mupfumira while responding to a question from Gokwe Chireya legislator Tonderayi Moyo:

“The issue of human and wildlife conflict does not matter whether it is in urban or rural area. What we are looking at is how we prevent human and wildlife conflict.  I will be coming shortly with a paper on the elephants because that is where we have an issue.  

The amount of elephants compared to what we are able to carry; our carrying capacity is around 50 000 elephants and at the moment we have over 84 000 elephants, which means we have shot our capacity.  As you are aware, the animals require land for feeding and water.  As a result, because we have excess numbers, there is conflict between the humans and the wildlife.  These are some of the issues on why we are hosting the first ever wildlife conflict under the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

Wherever there has been conflict in certain areas, the department of Parks and Wildlife has been there to assist in making sure that we preserve both the humans and take care of the wildlife.  It does not matter whether it is in urban or rural areas, what we are talking about is the human-wildlife conflict wherever it is.  We are doing our best to make sure we prevent the conflict and make sure that there is co-existence.  

We will be re-launching the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) Project because that is one of the projects which manages such issues as human and wildlife conflict.  We need to co-exist and give each other space and that is work in progress and we are proud that we are going to host the first ever such summit in Victoria Falls.”