PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has signed into law the Parks and Wildlife Management Amendment Act, which seeks to create a fund to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict, ensure greater community involvement in resource management, and professionalise wildlife experts.
The assent to the law was announced by the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, in a Government Gazette published on Friday.
“The following law, which was assented to by His Excellency the President, is published in terms of subsection 6(a) of section 131 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe — Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act (No. 4 of 2025),” reads the notice.
The law provides a framework for compensating those who fall
victim to human-wildlife conflict.
Conflicts between people and wildlife have long been a thorny issue,
threatening both animals and forests — the backbone of the tourism industry and
critical natural resources.
One of the key elements of the Act is the establishment of a fund to compensate those killed or maimed, and for property lost in human-wildlife conflict.
Clause Eight of the Act outlines the objective, source and disbursement modalities of the fund.
“There shall be established a Fund to be called the HWCRF whose objective shall be to offer some monetary relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict, that is to say victims of any encounter with a wild animal resulting in the death of a victim, or his or her maiming (that is to say any permanent disablement of a bodily function) or any other physical injury to the victim,” reads the Act.
“No person shall be entitled to monetary relief where they are injured, maimed or killed by a wild animal while illegally harvesting a wild animal or where they have negligently interfered with wild animals.
Monetary relief shall be paid to the victim from the HWCRF upon a claim made in the prescribed manner by or on behalf of the victim no later than 12 months after the encounter resulting in the death, maiming or injury, in accordance with the prescribed scale for disbursements.”
The law stipulates that funds will be drawn from proceeds of the allocated hunting quota, a 0,5 percent human-wildlife relief levy on revenue accruing to consumptive and non-consumptive tourism and wildlife-based businesses, and money that may be appropriated by Parliament.
The Act also establishes the Wildlife Professionals Council of Zimbabwe, a body mandated to regulate the wildlife sector and the profession. The council will comprise nine members, some of whom will be nominated by wildlife professionals.
Its mandate includes registering individuals as wildlife professionals in their respective sectors or subsectors as a precondition for operating, maintaining a register of all wildlife professionals, defining and enforcing uniform practice and discipline, and formulating and updating codes of ethics for both consumptive and non-consumptive sectors.During debate in the National Assembly, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Cde Sam Matema (Zanu-PF), said the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife should provide a compelling justification for the proposed removal of wildlife ownership rights on privately managed land, ensuring alignment with constitutional property rights and international obligations.
“The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife should provide for a transparent and equitable quota management system that balances the interests of both the authority and landowners,” said Cde Matema, who is the MP for Buhera Central.
“The Bill should have a provision that clearly stipulates how the benefits will be shared and distributed among the communities surrounding the wildlife areas. The Bill should have a provision that clearly specifies how the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund (HWCRF) would be resourced, managed and its proceeds distributed among the beneficiaries.”
Source: President Mnangagwa signs Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act into law (02/12/2025)
See also:
Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th March 2025) Parksand Wildlife Amendment Act set to transform conservation sector
Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd December 2025) Govt sets up human–wildlife conflict relief fund as Parks Actis amended
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