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"The Friends of Hwange Newsletters"
Issue No1. February 2006
Dear Friends of Hwange,
We are delighted to bring you our very first newsletter, which will keep you updated on what is going on in Hwange NP and more importantly what we’re doing to help
First, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far! Without you we could not have achieved what we did in the park last year during the worst time of the drought.
Last Year’s Drought!
Hwange NP is located in the western part of Zimbabwe between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo. The Park has little natural water and most of the water is pumped through boreholes into the pans and troughs. The situation is more severe in the dry season when there is no rainfall at all. Zimbabwe’s last rainy season was very poor, resulting in a terrible drought – the worst since 1992.
This situation was worsened due to Zimbabwe’s current state of affairs – an ailing economy, hyperinflation, a fuel crisis etc. Due to the major downturn of tourist receipts in Hwange, the National Parks Wildlife Authority has
minimal resources to adequately manage the 56 pumps in the Park, as well as maintaining roads and other conservation issues.
By the end of July there was little to no water in many parts of the park, resulting in nearly 500 elephants and many other animals dying of dehydration.
After receiving several devastating reports from Hwange, we decided that something had to be done.
We have realized that the future of one of Africa’s most famous game parks is at stake and that the situation must be addressed for the sake of the wildlife and the people who depend on it, especially in the future. We decided to form the Friends Of Hwange Trust to offer a long-term solution to the water problems in Hwange.
Currently 15 pumps are being managed by Wilderness Safaris and two by The Hide Safari Camp. However these pumps are located in the south-eastern part of the Park and the animals moving into the areas are putting the bush and its vegetation under severe stress. It is therefore imperative that more pumps throughout the NP are running to disperse the wildlife all over the park.
The Rescue Operation!
While we had decided to form a trust, the situation in Hwange was not improving and we had to do something right there and then. We collaborated with the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force to get fuel and spares to the
Park. The fuel (15 000 litres) and spares were stored and from The Hide in Hwange.
What we do!
We will be raising funds to purchase diesel and spares to maintain a significant number of waterholes within Hwange NP, approximately 10 to begin with.
We will ensure that all funds raised are properly administered and are not used for any other purposes other than towards water supply management in Hwange NP.
We will engage a permanent employee who will be equipped with a vehicle suitable for moving between the 10 waterholes to ensure they are being efficiently managed and serviced.
National Park pump attendants earn a very low salary and often are isolated in remote areas of the Park for weeks on end, without radio contact should the pump break down or they are in need of medical or food assistance.
We therefore want to provide radio comms and some food, clothing, medication and basically a little TLC to let them know that they are doing a good job.
The Hide Safari Camp will be used as a base for holding fuel and spares reserves for the trust.
What we are up to!
Since founding the trust we have employed one full time person in Harare to run the administrative and fund raising side of the trust. Her name is Maha Doppelfeld and she is based in Harare: -
The Triton Centre
176 Enterprise Rd, Chisipite
Box HG 261, Highlands
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4 498835/6
Mobile: +263-11-870733
Email: maha@friendsofhwange.co.zw
As of April we will have a full time employee at Hwange NP who will maintain and supervise the 10 pumps. Mario will start repairing and servicing the pumps for the next dry season, which will start in June/July this year, so that we are prepared and that last year disaster will not reoccur.
We have opened up Zim$ and FCA bank accounts at Stanbic Here are the details for the ZW$ bank account:
Friends of Hwange
Stanbic Bank
Borrowdale Branch : 3104
Acc No.: 01400 922432 01
Maha is currently approaching potential donors in Harare and will happily by appointment see you or anyone you refer her to for a short presentation and to answer any questions you might have.
We thank you for your support and look forward to being in touch!
Kind Regards
Trustees on behalf of
Friends of Hwange (Trust)
Trustees: G.R. Brown A.J. Preston P. Turner B. Edwards
Founder: R.A. Franklin
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