Zimparks on high alert
By Bridget Mananavire, Staff Writer
Monday, 23 January 2012 12:20
HARARE – Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) said they
are on high alert after devastating floods hit Kruger National Park in South
Africa last week.
Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park is part of the Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Park (GLTP), a massive Pan-African Park that also includes
South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s Gaza.
National Park’s public relations manager Caroline Washaya-Moyo said though
Gonarezhou has not been affected by the flooding, they are monitoring the
situation closely.
Washaya-Moyo said her organisation was on high alert in the event disaster
strikes.
“Reports received from Gonarezhou National Park reveal that the Park is
currently under no threats from floods. So far Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority has not received any requests from Kruger National
Park,” she said.
Media reports say heavy rains last week pounded the northern part of South
Africa for days, forcing park officials to evacuate 60 visitors who had been
stranded on safari drives.
Though no deaths or serious injuries were reported, six foreign tourists,
four Italians and two British were washed away in their car and had to be
taken to parks’ doctors for treatment, reports say.
Meanwhile, five people died in neighbouring Mozambique while almost 500 were
left homeless after their homes were destroyed by floods.
4 000 homes were flooded as the storm swept across the region. Weather
experts say more rains are expected in the region as the rain season
continues.
Late last year, the Ministry of Local Government Rural and Urban development
issued a statement warning people of heavy rainfall activity.