10 March 2020, Mucheni, Zimbabwe - Ward 4 Chief Sinansengwe is photographed at his home. The Chiefs in the area reserve real power over local politics and it is vital they are included in planning and their consent is sought on all matters. There are plans connected to FAO and SWM that would like to see community conservancy come into being once there are more animals in place. The Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation area is home to a great diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Each year, the area experiences large-scale migrations of megafauna. Whilst rural communities in the Mucheni (Zimbabwe) and Simalaha/ Inyasemu (Zambia) Community Conservancies have distinct cultures and local governments, they depend on hunting and fishing for both food and income. However, livelihoods are threatened by erratic rainfall, poor soils, and human wildlife conflicts.
The SWM Project in KaZa is promoting a sustainable use of natural resources, including wildlife and fisheries, by the Community Conservancies. It is also developing alternative sources of proteins, such as livestock husbandry and aquaculture. The project is being implemented by CIRAD in coordination with the governments of both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Recent activities include: community Land Use Planning; Human Wildlife Conflict strategies; baseline studies (hydrology, ornithology, non-timber forest products, livestock development); data collection (food and wild meat consumption); water resource development (bore holes for people and wildlife); partnerships with local communities; and collaboration with Panthera and the Peace Parks Foundation.