The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is seeking at least US$10 million in recapitalisation to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure, improve road networks and unlock the full tourism and conservation potential of the country’s national parks.
The funding requirement was revealed during an engagement between the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the Hospitality Industry and ZimParks in Harare yesterday, where concerns were raised over deteriorating infrastructure across protected areas amid efforts to enhance tourism and wildlife conservation.
ZimParks Acting Director-General, Professor Never Muboko, told legislators that years of underinvestment, recurring climatic shocks and increasing traffic volumes had significantly affected infrastructure within national parks and safari areas.
“A significant proportion of our road networks within parks and safari areas has deteriorated over time due to limited capital investment, recurring climatic shocks and increasing traffic volumes,” said Prof Muboko.
“In addition, access roads to major tourism destinations, including some of our flagship parks, have also been affected, posing challenges to mobility and tourism development.”
He said improved road connectivity and accessibility were critical to enhancing visitor experiences, strengthening conservation operations and increasing tourism activity within protected areas.
The recapitalisation initiative forms part of broader efforts by ZimParks to increase its contribution to Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, a key pillar of economic growth under the country’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the Hospitality Industry, Joanna Mamombe, said stakeholders must focus on practical solutions that unlock the economic and tourism value of the country’s protected areas.
“Our objective is not merely to identify challenges but to collectively develop practical recommendations that can unlock the immense tourism and economic potential of Zimbabwe’s national parks,” she said.
ZimParks is targeting an increase in park occupancy and utilisation from 35 percent recorded last year to 40 percent in 2026. However, the authority indicated that achieving this target will largely depend on securing adequate funding to support infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements.
Officials believe that modernising facilities and improving accessibility will not only strengthen wildlife conservation efforts but also position Zimbabwe’s national parks as more competitive destinations for both domestic and international tourists, thereby contributing to economic growth and sustainable environmental management.
