By Yeukai Chogurwei
Ennie Katupu is a 23-year-old professional guide in Kariba Urban, and has dedicated her time and life to saving wildlife and wildlands along the Zambezi River."When we talk of guiding, it's like studying the
environment and nature, and it's also plugged to tourism," she said.
"I move around with tourists, showing and teaching them about southern
mammals, birds, animals, different species," said Katupu.
"I know where different species are located and I teach
tourists about these animals, their habits, and their ecology and social way of
living, and survival."
Katupu is among a few female guides who are brave enough to
sleep under the stars in the darkest nights, guarding wildlife against
poachers.
Katupu has a never-ending love for animals and the
environment.
"Being a child who was born in an animal-dominated
area, I wanted to know more about animals and the surroundings, hence, I
applied to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS),"
she said. "Even though I was the only girl during the 2019 intake, I could
not back off."
Asked on what sort of challenges she has faced so far in the
field as a female guide, Katupu said: "So far, there are no challenges. l
can actually say I'm gaining more experience in the field because it's
practical."
She said she is willing to inform and educate Africans on
how to conserve and co-exist with the animals and wildlands.
"I am not a media practitioner, but I would love to
talk to people and make sure they have a good understanding of the environment
and our precious wildlife," she said. "I am ready to provide information
that can benefit societies on what I know."
But does she really feel people are doing good to co-exist
with wildlands and wildlife?
"People are not willing to co-exist with animals
because they don't have the knowledge and skills to deal with the
animals," said Katupu. "I feel like people are a threat to animals
and our environment, therefore, there is a need to continuously teach them. I
would appreciate if publications on how to co-exist with animals and species
are shared in a more widespread way."
Katupu is sometimes hired by local tourism companies in
Kariba to take tourists through game drives.
She was confident about her work and wishes to see more
young women taking up the work to dedicate time and energy towards conserving
wildlands and wildlife.
Katupu said youths must take the lead and change their
negative perceptions towards animals.
"To the youth of today, l want to let you know that
everything is possible," she said. "You can do anything which can
change your life and other people's lives. I am a young lady who has embarked
on a journey and I will not quit until I die. My goal is to keep my environment
on guard and make sure wildlife will not go extinct. Do your part and I will do
mine!"
"Do not touch or kill animals: leave footprints only
and nature will take its course."
More women in Zimbabwe are breaking barriers to become tour
guides in a field largely dominated by men.
Analysts say at least 60 percent of the global tourism
workforce is female, despite the fact that just 23 percent of board members in
the industry are women.
The female tour guides in adventure travel, is one corner of
tourism where women are particularly under-represented.
Experts say they are still far too few women taking up
opportunities in adventure travel and wildlife sector. They say many are much
more likely to take on lower -- paid cleaning and clerical roles than guiding
roles.
But for Katupu, change is in the air.
She wants to break the barriers and become part of the women
that keep the world of travel turning. For the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Authority (Zimparks), representation is a fundamental component of achieving
equality and access to opportunities for all in the wildlife sector. The
authority has supported numerous programmes to empower and celebrate the
incredible women working in the tourism and tour guide industry.
Working closely with other partners such as the African
Wildlife Foundation, Zimparks has supported the training of women to work as
tour guides helping most women to have access to financial autonomy and decent
jobs.
Katupu hopes that Zimparks, AWF, tour operators and others
working in the travel industry will continue to amplify and empower more female
tour guides in the future. -- The Herald/AfricaBrief
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