Enhancement of Sustainable Strategic Management Practices at the Zimbabwe National PARKS and Wildlife Management Authority: A Brief Review

Abstract

The present study is about Sustainable strategic management practices at the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Zimbabwe's wildlife is significant for one key reason: it supports the country's tourism industry. The Zimbabwean government views wildlife management as a useful, legal, and sustainable method of land use, one that may be particularly suitable in agriculturally marginal areas. Despite the tourism sector having great potential for growth in Zimbabwe, the contribution of wildlife to the country"s GDP has decreased in the post 2000 era. This makes it necessary to examine practices in wildlife management to determine the strategies that might enhance sustainable tourism especially in protected areas. A self administered questionnaire was given; face to face interviews and focus group discussions were conducted as primary data collection tools. Despite all attempts to manage and safeguard wildlife, local communities must be included in wildlife management because community-based conservation in particular has come under fire repeatedly, and it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to call for a return to more coercive types of conservation. The study recommends that the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to integrate their efforts with those of the private sector. Effective conflict prevention mechanisms need to be developed together with the communities especially in the implementation process. Additionally, managerial benchmarking is necessary. Collaborating with regional authorities in order to be consistency in wildlife in the SADC region countries and management in peaceful parks.