Wildlife crime fight hampered by delays and resource gaps

The fight against wildlife crime in Matabeleland is under severe strain due to limited resources, delayed justice, and weak cross-border enforcement, investigators have warned. The concerns emerged during a multi-stakeholder engagement held on Thursday in Bulawayo, organised by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to discuss challenges in investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating environmental cases in the region. Everisto Simayo, from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), said the North West Matabeleland region, which covers Hwange, Tsholotsho, Binga, Victoria Falls and surrounding areas, recorded 78 wildlife crime cases sent to court in 2025.

“So far, five cases are pending, 73 have been finalised, and eight people have received sentences of nine years or more,” Simayo said. In the Matobo region, which includes Bulawayo and Beitbridge, 84 cases were sent to court, with seven still pending. Seventy-seven were finalised, and eight individuals received custodial sentences of nine years or longer.

Simayo said investigations were hampered by a shortage of personnel, finances, and transport, which delayed responses to poaching incidents. “In North West Matabeleland, we are fully resourced with the support of wildlife partners, but in Matobo region, which includes Bulawayo, mobility is a major challenge. This affects timely attendance to poaching incidents,” he said.

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He highlighted the lack of an in-country DNA forensic laboratory as a significant obstacle. “DNA analysis helps identify species, link evidence to specific animals, and connect suspects to crime scenes. It also determines the origin of confiscated wildlife products like ivory and horns.

The absence of such a facility hinders our investigations,” Simayo said. Other challenges include a shortage of quarantine facilities for confiscated wildlife, which are essential for disease control, observation, and rehabilitation. “Quarantine facilities allow us to isolate animals, conduct health assessments, and rehabilitate them before returning them to the wild,” he said. Simayo also pointed to cross-border criminal networks, well-organised poaching syndicates, and porous borders, which make enforcement difficult.

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