Negative Human-Wildlife Interactions in Ndau Communities Bordering the Save Valley Conservancy in Chipinge District, Zimbabwe (1990–2023)

The chapter discusses the negative relationship between the Ndau communities in the Sabi (Sabi’ is the English version of the word ‘Save’ which is derived from Save River in Zimbabwe) Valley and wild animals in the Save Valley Conservancy. The Save River marks the boundary between the Ndau communities and the Save Valley Conservancy. Owing to the harsh economic situation in the Sabi Valley, some Ndau community members from the villages across the Save River such as Gumira, Rupisi, Chibuwe, Mkasa and others sneak into the game reserve in search of meat and ivory through poaching as well as gathering of herbs and firewood that they use to get by in everyday life. At the same time, wild animals escape from the conservancy through the areas where the fence will have been damaged and wreak havoc within local communities. In retaliation, people kill dangerous animals. As well, non-dangerous animals, such as impala, kudu and others, are killed for consumption. The Chapter draws from document interrogation and interviews. The paper argues that human-wildlife conflict which is occurring in the Sabi Valley is borne out of the ongoing economic crisis bedeviling the Zimbabwean society.