TOURISM, CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VOLUME IV THE SOUTH-EAST LOWVELD, ZIMBABWE Final Report to the Department for International Development Principal Authors: Goodwin, H.J., Kent, I.J., Parker, K.T., & Walpole, M.J. Project Managers: Goodwin, H.J.(Project Director), Swingland, I.R., Sinclair, M.T.(to August 1995), Parker, K.T.(from August 1995) Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), Institute of Mathematics and Statistics (IMS), University of Kent April 1997 This is one of four final reports produced at the end of a three year, Department for International Development funded project. Three case study reports (Vols. II-IV) present the research findings from the individual research sites (Keoladeo NP, India, Komodo NP, Indonesia, and the south-east Lowveld, Zimbabwe). The fourth report (Vol. I) contains a comparison of the findings from each site. Contextual data reports for each site, and methodological reports, were compiled at the end of the first and second years of the project respectively. The funding for this research was announced to the University of Kent by the ODA in December 1993. The original management team for the project consisted of, Goodwin, H.J., (Project Director), Swingland, I.R. and Sinclair, M.T. In August 1995, Sinclair was replaced by Parker, K.T. Principal Authors: • Dr Harold Goodwin (Project Director, DICE) • Mr Ivan Kent (DICE) • Dr Kim Parker (IMS) • Mr Matt Walpole (DICE) The collaborating institution in Zimbabwe was the Department of Geography, University of Zimbabwe (UZ). The research co-ordinator in Zimbabwe was Mrs Robin Heath. Research in the south-east lowveld was conducted by Dr Harold Goodwin (DICE), with the assistance of Mr T. Kemusi. Additional research, data analysis and writing was carried out in the UK by Dr Cheryl Butler (DICE). R. Smith (DICE) provided technical assistance in the production of the report. Suggested Citation Format: Goodwin, H.J., Kent, I.J., Parker, K.T., & Walpole, M.J. (1997). Tourism, Conservation & Sustainable Development: Volume IV, The South-East Lowveld, Zimbabwe. (1 of 4 Volumes), Unpublished, April 1997. The contents of this report and the views expressed in it are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department for International Development. Acknowledgements Harare Mrs Rushesha M.P., then Deputy Minister for Environment and Tourism, was enthusiastic about our project and suggested that we should undertake our research in the lowveld. She introduced us to George Pangeti at the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management and to the Zimbabwe Tourism Development Corporation, now the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Mrs Rushesha recommended that our partner institution for the research project should be the University of Zimbabwe. The research in Zimbabwe was carried out in partnership with the Institute of Environmental Studies and the Department of Geography at the University of Zimbabwe. The utmost gratitude is expressed to our counterpart Mrs Robin Heath, from the Department of Geography, for her invaluable role in co-ordinating the research, managing the budget and overseeing the work in Zimbabwe. Robin Heath was an invaluable source of information about Zimbabwe and about its tourism industry. She participated in our research visits to the lowveld and became a friend. We are grateful to her for being the first person to suggest that we should undertake our research in the lowveld. Professor Graham Hill, Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Professor Bruce Campbell of the Institute of Environmental Studies assisted in making the necessary formal arrangements for our joint research project. Dr Dan Tevera, Head of Department of Geography, and his successor, Dr Chris Mutambirwa, were supportive of our joint research activity. We were pleased that work undertaken by M. Chitakira, under the supervision of Dr L Zanamwe, was available to be included in this report. Mr Elias Nyakunu, Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Association of Tour and Safari Guides and the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association, was helpful in providing information and advice and in arranging the Harare workshop. Givemore Chidzidzi, Head of the research unit at ZTDC, and subsequently ZTA, gave valuable information, support and advice and his successor Rose R Mukogo gave us useful comments on the marketing data. During the three years of our research a number of individuals, based in Harare, were generous with information and advice. Dr Brian Child, Dr Graham Child, Derek de la Harpe, Simon Metcalfe, Tom Taylor, Raoul du Toit and Alastair Wright - all contributed significantly to our understanding of the issues surrounding the development of nature tourism in the lowveld. South-east lowveld Mr Tovadini Kemusi undertook much of the field research in the lowveld during 1996 and we are indebted to him for his efforts in completing the local people surveys and encouraging people to complete questionnaires on our behalf. He was assisted by Mr Shumba and members of the CAMPFIRE Association. We are particularly grateful to the scouts of DNPWLM who distributed and collected tourist questionnaires on our behalf. The staff of the Chipinda Pools section of Gonarezhou were very interested in the research and helpful in providing information and arranging for the scouts to collect tourist survey forms for us. We are particularly grateful to Charles Chibge, Takawira Madawo, Evious Mpofu, Clifford Tafangenyasha and the many other park staff who assisted Mr Kemusi. Our research was conducted at a large number of relatively isolated sites in the lowveld and we are indebted to the individuals at the sites who assisted with our research. In Mahenye we are grateful to the members of the Wildlife Committee and to Clive Stockil for sharing his knowledge and respect for the community. Mr Rukuni of Farm 42, Gonakudzingwa small scale commercial farming area, was kind enough to provide us with information about his initiative. Staff at the Lion and Elephant, Mapari stop-in, Planters Inn and Tambuti Lodge assisted by distributing survey forms. At the Malilangwe Conservation Trust Dr Jeremy Anderson, Meg Barry, Jephias Mundondo, Colin Wenham and Gavin Young provided information. Malilangwe provided an excellent base for our final visit to the lowveld. In the Conservancies we were assisted in our collection of information for the case studies and provided with a further detailed understanding of the development of each of the ‘rhino’ conservancies. At Bubiana Lyn Abbot, Ken and Blondie Drummond, and Guy Hilton-Barber were particularly helpful. Guy Hilton-Barber was generous in providing detailed information for the Barberton case study. At Chiredzi River Conservancy, successive chairmen Tore Ballance, George Hume and Chris Robinson, all provided us with information, as did Digby Nesbitt. In the Save Valley Conservancy we were given considerable help by Graham Connear, Mr Shumba and, in particular, by Clive Stockil who was generous with his time and hospitality and who provided invaluable insights into the development of the Save Valley Conservancy. In Chiredzi, Mr Sitoli (Chairman, Chiredzi RDC), Mr Tavaruva (District Administrator), Mr Mateko (Assistant District Administrator), and Councilor Mupapa (Chief, Matibi 2) all gave useful feedback on the results of the local people survey. At Chipinge RDC Charles Inggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Fred Mlambo, Natural Resources Officer, provided valuable feedback on our local people surveys and on the Mahenye development. For Zimbabwe Sun Ltd, developers of the lodges at Mahenye, John Smith (Managing Director, Zimbabwe Sun Ltd), Alan Thomas (Head of Safari Division), and Paul Perez (Manager at Mahenye) were generous in providing information and documents. UK Many members of DICE and IMS contributed to the research and production of the final reports. Nic Clifton, Claire Jordan, David Metcalfe (IMS) and Frances Pirie (DICE) conducted the research into UK and German tour operator attitudes and perceptions. Data entry, statistical analysis and interpretation of the information collected from the visitor and local people questionnaires was conducted by Dr Cheryl Butler (DICE). Dr Butler also contributed to the writing and presentation of text and graphics relating to the results of the questionnaire work and was responsible for the design of local people survey 2. Kate Stefanko proofed earlier drafts of parts of this report and offered valuable comments. Dr Cheryl Butler, Annette Huggins, Bob Smith and Kate Stefanko provided technical assistance during the production of reports. The DICE secretariat provided vital logistical support throughout the duration of the project. Sincere thanks are offered to all of the above for the vital contributions which they have made. Substantial background information and secondary sources were obtained from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), for which we are very grateful. Particular thanks go to Dr Don Gordon, Dr Jeremy Harrison and Dilys Roe. Finally, the authors would like to express their thanks and gratitude to those people in Zimbabwe and the UK whom we have been unable to name in person, but have contributed in some way to the completion of this research. CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 TOURISM, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.........................................