By Derick Tsimba

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated close to seven vehicles to Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani districts in Mashonaland West Province to be used for anti-poaching operations, The Harare Post can report.

 “Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani districts are facing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The vehicles handed over today for the Zambezi Valley Biodiversity project will support anti-poaching operations, efforts to tackle human wild life conflict and conservation of Zimbabwe’s unique landscapes,” said UNDP.

UNDP also said it was working in partnership with Government to conduct the project on Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management in the Zambezi Region.

“The ‘Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Middle to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe’ project is supported by the Government of Zimbabwe, GEF and UNDP,” said UNDP.

Government together with its partners is determined to alleviate the impact of the displacement of the Tonga/KoreKore people on the Zambezi River. Alleviation of the impact of the displacement is being done through the implementation of infrastructure and developmental projects in the Zambezi Valley.

Activities central to the infrastructure and developmental projects are, procurement and installation of grinding mills, sinking of boreholes, construction of schools and houses for support staff in respective project sites, construction of clinics and houses for support staff in respective project sites, construction and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, supply of medical equipment, construction of bridges, rehabilitation of dams and rehabilitation of water reticulation systems.