LEADING hospitality group, African Sun Limited (ASL), has given a timely boost of US$21 000 to the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (Vfapu) to help in wildlife conservation activities in the resort city.
Founded in 1999, Vfapu has been dedicated to the conservation of local wildlife and natural resources through partnerships with various stakeholders operating in and around the resort city.
peaking at the handover ceremony recently, the ASL head of marketing, public relations and innovation, Charleen Mtezo, said the group actively drives corporate social responsibility to fulfil and have a meaningful impact in the communities it operates in while also contributing towards the achievement of the United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“The Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (is) doing tremendous work in the conservation of our local wildlife and natural resources. ASL also benefits from this natural beauty and biodiversity and we seek to participate and contribute to its preservation and restoration,” she said.
“The Vfapu tries to ease some of the burdens by protecting wildlife and habitants from poachers, as well as rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals. It is against this background that as ASL, we saw it fit to assist the Vfapu so that they are able to carry out the challenging tasks at hand. Our donation of US$21 000 will cover salaries and medical aid for scouts for a period of 12 months.”
Speaking after receiving the donation, Vfapu founder Charles Brightman said the gesture would go a long way in the unit’s antipoaching efforts in the resort city.
“We are very grateful to work with various stakeholders for a common cause and working in partnership with various stakeholders including the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, local authorities, police and others, we have removed over 30 000 wire snares in the bush around Victoria Falls,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is a well-known destination and people come to see wildlife and if without wildlife people will choose alternative destinations. So, more wildlife means more visitors and if we don’t have any wildlife here we don’t have tourists.”
