By Brenna Matendere
Wildlife conservationists have implored government to halt proposed plans to construct a traffic detour that goes through Hwange wildlife buffer zone saying the development will severely affect ecological integrity.
The 45-kilometer detour is intended to be set between Cross Mabale and Cross Dete as part of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road construction project.
Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), Executive Director, Peter Blinston expressed deep concern regarding the proposed detour.
In a letter to Asphalt Products, the road constructor for the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road, dated 16 October 2025, he said the area forms part of a critical wildlife corridor and buffer that supports the safe movement of animals between Hwange National Park and surrounding communal lands.
He wrote that over the years, PDC, together with other conservation partners, has invested significant time and resources to enhance the safety of both wildlife and communities within this landscape.
“The introduction of commercial trafic through this sensitive zone would severely undermine these conservation gains and pose a grave risk to wildlife, particularly species such as the endangered painted dog, elephant, and other large mammals that frequently traverse the area.
“We are also concerned that key stakeholders, including ourselves and other conservation bodies and operators active in Hwange, have not been consulted prior to this decision.
“Such a development requires comprehensive environmental and stakeholder review to ensure compliance with conservation and safety standards,” he wrote.
“We therefore respectfully request that: All current works preparing this route for commercial traffic be immediately suspended pending a consultation and environmental assessment process. Viable alternative routes outside the wildlife buffer zone be explored and prioritised.
“PDC and other relevant conservation stakeholders be included in any future consultations regarding infrastructure developments impacting the Hwange ecosystem Painted Dog Conservation.”
Another wildlife partner, Chrysalis Trading t/a Sable Valley, Khulu Bush Camp and Ivory Lodge (a.k.a. Amalinda Safari Collection), a key operator of premier safari lodges in the Hwange region, has also put forward a letter of concern to authorities seeking a review of the proposed detour in the wildlife area.
The letter dated 16 October 2025 was addressed to Safaris Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Asphalt Products and Zimbabwe Forestry Commission.
The organisation wrote it has significant concerns regarding the proposed selection of the detour route-Cross Mabale to Cross Dete.
“We fully support national infrastructure development and appreciate the
challenges inherent in major construction projects. However, we believe the current detour plan, while perhaps operationally expedient, poses disproportionate and potentially irreversible risks to the ecological integrity of the area and the viability of the local tourism industry,” wrote the organisation.
It also noted that the contractor is understood to possess the capacity and funding required to construct a less intrusive alternative, making the choice of this route especially challenging.
“The proposed route, which channels high-volume, heavy traffic through minor
district roads, adds an unnecessary 45-kilometre extension to vehicle transit and passes direct|y through the main access point for Hwange National Park.
“These secondary roads are not suited to the anticipated vehicular load,” added Amalinda Safari Collection.
” The resulfing delays, accelerated road degradation, and negative impact on guest transfers and logistical supply lines will severely compromise our service standards.”
A visit by this publication to the area noted that this directly jeopardizes the substantial tourism revenue that supports local conservation and employment efforts, especially affecting scheduled game
drives into Hwange National Park and related operations within the Painted Dogs concession.
Ecological and Conservation Risk:
Major concerns are that the unavoidable threat this detour poses to wildlife is palpable.
The selected route traverses critical wildlife pathways and migratory routes.
Introducing heavy-truck traffic into these sensitive animal corridors will demonstrably elevate the risk of severe animal mortality and environmental degradation, fundamentally undermining the conservation work that tourism finances.
Past incidents of vehicle-animal collisions in the area underline the
gravity of this threat.
Respectful Request for Review and Alternative Route Adoption
In the interest of collaborative problem-solving and minimizing disruption, Amalinda respectfuly urged Asphalt Products to immediately place the current detour plan
under review.
“We propose an urgent discussion to explore the immediate adoption of the existing commercial route as the preferred alternative, which would effectively bypass these sensitive wildlife areas and minimize the strain on our shared infrastructure,” submits the company.
This plan is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Hwange ecosystem
and the surrounding tourism economy.
Matebeleland North Roads Engineer, Mr Ncube did not respond to questions on the issue.
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