Having recognised this, our partnership has expanded its focus beyond park infrastructure to include community well-being. We've supported the installation of predator-proof bomas, solar-powered boreholes, and community gardens. In addition, we've provided students with school fees, textbooks, and bicycles, while strengthening primary response teams to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

"Together, we've also helped deploy GPS satellite collars and EarthRanger software, transforming how conservation teams understand elephant movements and mitigate risks."

In 2023, IFAW renewed our partnership with ZimParks and signed a 20-year co-management agreement for Matetsi Safari Area Unit 5, reinforcing our shared commitment to securing one of the region's most important wildlife landscapes. Makona shows what's possible when government, communities and conservation partners work towards a common goal. But the work is far from over. Climate change, wildlife crime and increasing human-wildlife conflict continue to test the resilience of both people and nature. That's why we remain committed to building on what we've started-strengthening conservation, supporting communities, and securing connected landscapes where wildlife and people can thrive together.

"When people think about Makona, they often see the ranger station," states ZimParks Director General Professor Edson Gandiwa. "What I see is something much bigger. I see rangers better equipped to protect wildlife, communities working alongside conservation, elephants moving through a safer landscape, and a partnership that has continued to grow from one investment into a long-term commitment to Hwange. Conservation is never finished. Every milestone creates the opportunity-and the responsibility-to do more."