ENVIRONMENTALISTS successfully hosted “Taste of Game Zimbabwe” dinner in the resort city of Victoria Falls to raise awareness on conservation in the region.
Dinners from South Africa and Zimbabwe were treated to sumptuous game dishes— from impala to kudu.
“The gospel of conservation should be preached not just to the Zimbabweans but to the entire region as wild animals tend not to respect geographical boundaries. We all own the natural resources and we are pushing for true ownership.
“People should benefit from wild animals economically. It is a pity that most of the local people are still to taste the game meat yet they are surrounded by the animals. We are not promoting poaching but true ownership. It has to be managed in a proper manner,” Peter Makumbe, one of the researchers with Oppenheimer Generation, said.
Some of the locals who attended the dinner held on Africa Day confessed it was their first time to taste game meat.
“Most of the local butcheries and supermarkets specialise in selling chicken and beef. I never got the chance to taste game meat but I am glad that finally I got the chance,” one Susan Moyo told this publication on the sidelines of the dinner.
The Taste of Game Zimbabwe dinner was hosted by Oppenheimer Generation Research and Conservation and Shangani Holistic in partnership with Michelin Star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen.
The conservation launch was held in South Africa and the organisers are planning to take the dinner initiative to other countries in the continent.
“Since animals migrate from one country to another. There is a need to collaborate on conservation such that we all benefit from the natural resources that we have. As a result, this initiative will be held in different countries and I hope the next stop is Zambia,” Makumbe, who is based at the Shangani Ranch, said.
