Zimbabwean Conservationist Moreangels Mbizah Wins 2026 Whitley Award for Transforming Human-Wildlife Coexistence

Zimbabwean conservationist Moreangels Mbizah has earned global recognition after receiving the 2026 Whitley Award, a major honour in environmental conservation. The award celebrates her practical and community-led approach to protecting lions while supporting rural communities that live alongside wildlife. Known as the “Green Oscars,” the award highlights individuals who deliver real solutions on the ground. Mbizah’s work stands out because it focuses on both conservation and human livelihoods. Her achievement reflects years of effort in some of Zimbabwe’s most challenging regions where conflict between people and wildlife remains a daily reality.

The recognition goes beyond personal success and speaks to a wider movement in conservation that values local knowledge and participation. Mbizah has built her work on trust within communities, ensuring that solutions are shaped by those directly affected. She has made it clear that conservation cannot succeed without involving people who share land with wildlife. Her statement after receiving the award reinforced this view, as she described the honour as a shared victory rooted in collaboration. This approach has helped shift attitudes toward wildlife, especially in areas where predators were once seen only as threats.

As the founder and executive director of Wildlife Conservation Action, Mbizah leads efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict in northern Zimbabwe. In these regions, livestock losses caused by lion attacks can destroy a family’s income in a single night. This often leads to retaliatory killings, which threaten already vulnerable lion populations. Mbizah’s strategy addresses both sides of the problem by protecting livestock while reducing harm to wildlife. Her work shows that conservation must solve real economic challenges if it is to succeed over time.

A key part of her model is the training of community guardians known as Batabilili, which means “protectors” in the Tonga language. These guardians track predator movements and warn farmers when lions enter grazing areas. They also educate communities on safer livestock practices that reduce risk. Practical solutions include reinforced cattle enclosures, mobile livestock pens, and solar-powered flashing lights that deter lions at night. These measures have delivered measurable results, with some areas reporting up to a 98 percent reduction in conflict. This data shows that simple, well-designed interventions can produce strong outcomes when communities take ownership.

Mbizah’s work challenges older conservation models that excluded local people from decision-making. Instead of imposing solutions, her programmes involve communities from the start. Farmers help design systems and invest their own resources once they see results. This creates long-term commitment and reduces dependence on external support. The £50,000 Whitley Award funding will help expand these efforts into new areas. More community guardians will be trained, and additional wards will benefit from proven coexistence strategies.

Women play a strong role in Mbizah’s conservation work. She has observed that women often lead effective solutions because they manage households and farming systems daily. Their involvement strengthens community engagement and improves adoption of new practices. Mbizah continues to advocate for deeper inclusion of women in conservation leadership. This focus adds another layer to her approach, linking environmental protection with social development.

Her journey into conservation did not follow a typical path. Mbizah first encountered wildlife during postgraduate research on African wild dogs at the age of 25. That experience changed her career direction and gave her a clear purpose. Since then, education has become central to her mission. She has introduced conservation clubs in rural schools to teach children about wildlife and environmental stewardship. These programmes help young people understand that wildlife is part of their shared heritage, not just a source of danger.

Across Zimbabwe’s mid-Zambezi Valley, pressure on land continues to grow due to farming and settlement expansion. This increases contact between people and predators like lions, which are already classified as vulnerable. Mbizah’s work addresses this challenge by balancing conservation with economic survival. Her long-term goal is to stabilise lion populations while strengthening rural livelihoods. This balance is critical for sustainable conservation outcomes.

Mbizah has described her award as a win for Zimbabwe and for community-driven conservation. Her success highlights a shift in global thinking toward solutions that come from the ground up. It shows that lasting change depends on people who live closest to the problem. Her work provides a clear model for other regions facing similar challenges. It proves that conservation can succeed when it protects both wildlife and human dignity at the same time.