Conservationists Fight Proposed Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway Detour Through Wildlife Corridor

Conservation and tourism groups in Hwange have raised concerns over a proposed detour that would send heavy traffic through important wildlife corridors during the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls highway rehabilitation.

The temporary route, planned by road contractor Asphalt Products, would divert vehicles from Cross Mabale through Mpofu Turn, Dete Shops, and Cross Dete—a stretch that cuts across Hwange National Park’s buffer zone.

In letters sent to the company between 16 and 17 October, conservation and tourism bodies warned that the detour could put wildlife at risk, endanger local communities, and damage Hwange’s fragile ecosystem and tourism appeal.

In a 17 October letter, Shamah Mawoko, coordinator of the Association for Tourism Hwange (ATH), said:

“This corridor lies adjacent to key wildlife habitats where species such as elephants, zebras, antelope, and many more freely move between protected and communal lands.

“Increased heavy vehicle movement at high speeds poses a serious risk of collisions, disturbance to animal behaviour, and habitat degradation.”

Mawoko said the roads planned for the detour are not built to handle trucks and tankers, raising concerns about whether the plan meets national engineering and environmental standards.

She urged the contractor and authorities to consider shorter or alternative routes that avoid wildlife corridors.

Peter Blinston, executive director of Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), said the proposed route runs through a critical wildlife corridor that allows animals to move safely between Hwange National Park and surrounding communal lands.

He warned that introducing commercial traffic into this sensitive area would put wildlife at serious risk, especially endangered painted dogs, elephants, and other large mammals that frequently cross the zone.

Blinston also criticised the lack of consultation with conservation stakeholders before the decision was made.

Sharon Stead, chief executive of the Amalinda Safari Collection, which operates Khulu Bush Camp, Sable Valley and Ivory Lodge, said the detour sends heavy traffic along minor district roads and goes right through the main access point for Hwange National Park.

She noted that these secondary roads are not designed for such vehicles, and that the resulting delays, road damage, and disruption to guest transfers and supplies would seriously affect service standards.

Stead added that putting heavy trucks through these sensitive corridors would increase the risk of animal deaths, undermining both tourism and conservation efforts in the area.

The three organisations have called for a review involving the Ministry of Transport, ZimParks, the Forestry Commission, and other relevant authorities to find safer alternatives that balance infrastructure development with conservation needs.

More: CITE