programme in 2005. CAMPFIRE proved successful in some areas with new methods of benefit-sharing including direct payments of dividends to community accounts and revolving funds.44 There have been calls for the programme to decentralise to the community level45 and diversify its focus beyond wildlife to include forest and mineral resources. The government has recently committed to reviving the programme.46 In Lupane and Nkayi, CAMPFIRE committees do not exist. This is most likely a result of past failures of the project which exacerbated land-tenure and resource access disputes between communities, councils, and the Forestry Commission.47 Traditional leaders NRM at the community level is meant to be administered by traditional leaders (in line with the Traditional Leaders Act, 1999) with support from local authorities and various government departments.48 The village assembly, under the village head, is responsible for enforcement of all environmental planning and conservation bylaws on behalf of the chief, RDC, and national government. Both government and traditional institutions are severely lacking in resources and capacity to implement policies and legislation. Regarding the RDC, this has encouraged revenue from local resources, such as wildlife, to be diverted to benefit councils rather than local communities. The role of traditional leaders has been undermined by successive governments; and communities often accuse both local government and traditional leaders of corruption and mismanagement, e.g., allowing foreign and local companies to conduct uncontrolled mining, logging, and wildlife exploitation.49
2. Methodology The study was conducted in three of the five of the project districts: Nkayi, Binga, and Hwange. The three districts were selected by placing all five project implementation districts into three unique district clusters, which were grouped together because of cultural, ethnic, ecological, livelihood, and other similarities. The three clusters are: 1) Lupane and Nkayi, 2) Hwange and Tsholotsho, and 3) Binga. A team of eight researchers accompanied by the consultant, collected data through KIIs at district and ward level and FGDs in the selected study wards during September 2021. The team included project staff Louise Nkomo (Watershed Lead), Mkhokheli Sithole and Qondani-enkosini Sibanda (NRM Coordinators), Munyaradzi Ziburawa (Resilience Coordinator), Sambulisiwe Maseko (GIS Specialist), Vusumuzi Mlilo (Environmental Officer) and two NRM field officers per district namely Zibusiso Mpofu, Sithabile Bafana, Shackson Ncube, Mxolisi Dlodlo, and Skhulile Dube. The research team developed a study methodology and workplan, which was approved by BHA. The data was coded using Dedoose software and analysed. The findings are presented in section 4 of this report.
Chimhowu, et al 2010 https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/decentralise-campfire-programme-in-matland/ 46 https://allafrica.com/stories/202109280377.html 47 Alexander and McGregor, 2002 48 Including the environmental management agency, the national water authority and departments responsible for forestry, national parks and wildlife and agricultural extension, ministry responsible for mines. 49 Chigwata, T. 2016. The role of traditional leaders in Zimbabwe: are they still relevant? Law, Democracy and Development. Volume 20, 2016 44 45
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