From the 6th -11th September, Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association (ZPHGA) Representative and Professional Guide John Laing (Batoka Lodges) arrived with a third team of Learner Guides from Victoria Falls.
Under the watchful eye of a National Parks Ranger, the enthusiastic guides worked with the D.A.R.T./Ukhozi Team to remove a staggering total of 98km of telephone wires from various sections inside the National Park, in and around Dete Town and along the main road from Dete to Hwange Main Camp. Deep gratitude is extended to John and his Team including Vitalis ncube; Zibusiso Sibanda; Shain Chiota; Wisdom Mpofu; Harris Kanhukamwe; Dan Peel; Daniel Ngwenya; Abraham Mhlangu; Lucky Silungwe; Wilbert Dube; Wonder Siamudoda; Milton Ncube & Mathew Munuwa to help save and protect wildlife by removing the source of many thousands of potential poachers’ snares.
On 8th September Lance Nesbitt, Chairman of ZPHGA, Rob Lurie (Deputy Chairman ZPHGA) and their team of camera men and assistants arrived to lend a hand and document the work being carried out by the many safari guides who have willingly donated their time to physically assist this important conservation initiative.
On 10th September the Regional Manager of TelOne (our Government Parastatal Phone Company) Mr Derick Sibanda arrived with his local representative Mr. Michael Gama to inspect progress. They were surprised and impressed to see the 18 tons of wire we had collected. They are in the process of arranging a TelOne truck to transport the wire to Harare.
After the ZPHGA and Victoria Falls volunteers departed, the Ukhozi Team began work on some of the more difficult sections where the old phone lines cannot be removed until the rotten and fragile telephone poles have been replaced with solid poles to support the new WiFi Fibre cable that has been attached to the old telephone poles.
There are delays and challenges because TelOne have no new poles available to replace the old ones. This means our Team have to search for, find, cut, transport, dig holes, erect and recycle suitable old poles as replacements. This is something that is usually done by the appropriate Telephone Department of the Government. Instead the Ukhozi team have so far replaced 29 old poles along the Dete Road and Mpofu/White Rd sections inside the Park.
The section along the Dete Road continues to provide most challenges and delays with many fragile poles carrying the WiFi Fibre cable & 32-40 phone lines.
Since the departure of the Vic Falls volunteer groups, the D.A.R.T./Ukhozi team have continued to work alone on the project. During this time the Team has received a generous donation of 20kg Mealie Meal and 60 litres of diesel from James & Janine Varden of Ride Zimbabwe Horseback Safaris and their supporters.
Special thanks must also go to Terry & Sheona Anders & their wonderful chefs & staff at Iganyana Camp who prepare and deliver a sumptuous lunch every day for the Ukhozi Team wherever they are in the field. This is greatly appreciated.
PROJECT SUMMARY TO DATE: The removal of 98km wire by the 3rd Vic Falls Guides Group plus removal of 21km by the Ukhozi Team brings the total phone wire now removed to 545km WEIGHING 18.2 Tons with a potential to yield 181,700 SNARES.
The D.A.R.T./Ukhozi Team and Friends of Hwange Trust would like to thank everyone who has and continues to physically assist this project by giving up their time or by donating financial or material support
– EDUCASA FOUNDATION
– HWANGE CONSERVATION SOCIETY-(UK)
– SOUTHERN AFRICAN CONSERVATION TRUST
– SAVE AFRICAN RHINO FOUNDATION (Australia)
– JULIET JOHNSTONE of Cawston Block – for providing meat and fresh vegetables to the volunteers
– MARK & ANTHONY RANDALL – for providing cabbages
– BRENT LEROUX – for providing fresh vegetables
– BONSA SPAR – for providing 2 x 10 kg bags of mealie meal
– FOREVER AFRICAN SAFARIS – for procurement and logistics
– TERRY & SHEONA ANDERS & Iganyana Tented Camp and heir staff- for providing accommodation and supplying meals
– JAMES & JANINE VARDEN of Ride Zimbabwe Horseback Safaris
– JOHN LAING of Batoka Lodges for recruitment, coordination and transportation of Vic Falls Guides
– ZIMBABWE NATIONAL PARKS – Especially Area Manager Mr. Brighton Joroma, Senior Wildlife Officer Mr. Augustine Gomba, Senior Ranger Chipangure and the many Rangers who have provided security protection.