On September 28, 17 Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) scouts were given bicycles by international charity, World Bicycle Relief, through Zimbabwean hospitality group, Africa Albida Tourism.
The bicycles are already saving on transport costs for the cash-strapped unit, which tackles all forms of poaching in the Victoria Falls area, and they have also paved the way for more rapid responses, crucial in catching poachers.
VFAPU Head of Operations, Charles Brightman, says the bicycles are having a positive impact. “Bicycle patrols are quiet and can be on poachers quite quickly. This will also greatly impact on response time as they will not have to wait for transport. The scouts will be far more effective in their daily tasks.”
He adds that the bicycles are also improving quality of life for the scouts. George Ngwenya, a 65-year-old grandfather and a scout for VFAPU, lives in a rural village just outside Victoria Falls. Since he received a bicycle, his life has become a little bit easier.
His daily 10km commute to work used to be a challenge as he was reliant on erratic public transport, the cost of which came out of his modest earnings. George’s commute to work is now a cheap and reliable hour, and he and the other scouts are also able to use their bicycles for patrols, and to get to and from their posts.
“We are happy with our bicycles because we can now get to places in good time,” George says. “If we need to get somewhere to make an arrest, instead of taking two hours to get there by foot, we can now get there much more quickly.”
VFAPU scout George Ngwenya
World Bicycle Relief’s Zimbabwe Country Director, Gareth Desmond, says that the unisex bicycles, called Buffalo Bicycles, are specifically designed for use in rural areas. “They are far stronger and more durable than other bicycles, with the ability to carry loads of up to 100kg on the carrier. With every 100 bicycles distributed, a mechanic is trained to repair them. This not only enables someone to earn a living, it ensures the bicycles are maintained, which is crucial. They are expected to last the life of their owner.”
World Bicycle Relief, founded in 2005 by FK Day and Leah Missbach Day, operates in several countries, including Zambia, Kenya and Malawi.
