Three unidentified people allegedly snuck into Nyamepi Campsite in Mana Pools National Park and made off with two cameras, two pairs of binoculars, two Samsung phones, and other valuables from an unlocked car parked overnight.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, 29 May. Said Farawo:
Our Rangers, together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, responded swiftly, tracking the suspects’ footprints for several kilometres. It is believed that the suspects may have escaped by boat.
Aerial and river patrols are ongoing, but no further suspicious activity has been detected at this time.
To enhance security, armed rangers have been deployed overnight at public campsites, and additional night ground and river patrols have been intensified.
A mobile response vehicle is on standby for any emergencies.
Farawo also announced a US$500 reward for any information that could help track down the suspects.
Reacting to the incident, Mashonaland West MP Mutsa Murombedzi called for tighter security in national parks to keep both tourists and wildlife safe. She said:
The fact that criminals could infiltrate Mana Pools, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and flee undetected, possibly by boat raises serious questions about the state of security infrastructure and intelligence coordination within our national parks.
We call for urgent upgrades to surveillance, patrols & intelligence. Zimbabwe’s premier parks must be safe for tourists, wildlife & future generations
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