By Learnmore Nyoni
ZimParks Director General Fulton Magwanya, this Friday commissioned the first batch of 40 residential stands allocated to staff in the Mid-Zambezi region, bringing to 340 the total number of employees in the wildlife authority who have since benefited from the facility in its current drive to secure stands for all its staff.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in Kadoma, Mungwanya commended the ZimParks Mid-Zambezi housing society for facilitating these stands through a partnership with Kadoma city council, ZB Bank and Pure Gold Housing Trust.
“I am aware that the majority of protected areas in the Mid Zambezi Region are all dotted in the remote peripheral areas of the landscape far away from modern lifestyle.
“As such the conditions present difficulties for the employees to live together comfortably with their families,” he added.
Over 75 percent of staff in ZimParks’ Mid Zambezi region work in remote communities far from urban amenities.
These stations include Kariba, Marongora, Mana Pools, Zambezi Valley Anti-poaching Reaction Unit (ZAVARU), Zambezi River Specialized Anti-poaching Unit (ZARSAU), Dande Safari Area, Sapi, Mkanga, Kapirinhengu, Doma Safari Area and Chirundu Task Force.
Samukele Zhai, a Ranger in Mid Zambezi Charara who benefited from this facility said that she was glad that she now had a piece of land in her name.
“As they say, musha mukadzi, I’m happy I can now raise my kids in an urban setting where they can enjoy modern amenities,” said Zhai.
ZimParks Mid-Zambezi Senior Regional Manager Felix Chimeramombe commended employees in his region for coming together to create a housing society that benefits contributing members.