First Lady hails rangers as guardians of Zimbabwe's natural heritage

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has paid glowing tribute to Zimbabwe's wildlife rangers, describing them as "fearless guardians of our natural heritage" during a recent ceremony held at Chinhoyi Caves.

According to a post by C.H. Mukungunugwa on X (formerly Twitter), the First Lady praised the rangers' unmatched bravery in confronting armed poachers, navigating treacherous terrain, and facing dangerous wildlife—often without knowing if they will return home to their families.

"Mnangagwa said the courage of the rangers not only protects the nation's wildlife treasures but also sustains the country's tourism industry," Mukungunugwa wrote.



Looking ahead, the First Lady called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence and other modern technologies to enhance conservation efforts. She also emphasised the importance of community involvement through the CAMPFIRE programme, which promotes sustainable wildlife management at the grassroots level.

"To our rangers, you are Zimbabwe's pride, the heartbeat of conservation, and custodians of our future," Mnangagwa said.



The event, which also featured tributes to fallen rangers, highlighted the growing recognition of frontline conservation workers as key players in protecting Zimbabwe's biodiversity and boosting eco-tourism.