At a sunset cocktail party hosted on the game platform at Mukuvisi Woodlands on 22 August, Haka Game park was announced the winner of the 2017 Advertising and Publicity Club’s Corporate Care Awards.

The APC which was established in 1963, has given the prestigious award annually to individuals or business enterprises that have shown exceptional care and concern for the environment, through their initiatives and commitment to projects that improve the community. The corporate care program identifies and honors companies judged upon key criteria, including: performance, long-term sustainability, innovation and community value.

Haka Game Park, which is located at Cleveland Dam, 10km from Harare’s city center, was recognised for it’s vital work in preserving the area, which is a wetland rich in flora and fauna.

Mr Mohammed Surtee and his family established the park more than 20 years ago. In his presentation at the awards, he detailed a long history of fighting against wood, sand, and animal poaching. Among the Surtree family’s biggest achievements was having the site included on the list of Ramsar Wetlands, which elevate it’s status as a conservation area.

“I’m thrilled to have received this award. Our staff will be overjoyed,” said Surtee to Harare News after the accolade was presented.

According to judges, Ballantyne Park Conservancy Trust (BPCT) was a close runner up. BPCT was created to formalise a previously loose coalition of dedicated residents seeking to restore and protect the once glorious Ballantyne Park recreational area. Speaking at the event, BPCT chairman Sean Quinlan (also known as the voice of the Road Users’ Association), described how they were thrilled to have restored some of the park’s former glory.

“Over the years of neglect, the park became completely overgrown and littered as the adjacent shopping centre was dumping uncollected refuse there. The dam was leaky, and remained dry through much of the year. Residents in the area did not feel safe moving around in the park.” BPCT was recognised with a silver award for turning this story around, and rejuvenating the park, putting it back on the map for the surrounding community.

Past winners of the Advertising and Publicity Club Corporate Care Award have included: The Business Council for Sustainable Development, Miracle Missions, Harare News, The Greystone Park Nature Preserve, Environment Africa and Rooney’s Hire Services.

Find your way to Ballantyne Park on the first or second Sunday of each month for the breakfast mornings, or to Haka any day of the week, but especially for the upcoming kite-flying event, Kites for Peace on Sunday 17 September. More info here.

Image: (L to R):  Mr Simon Pitt – Mukuvisi Woodlands, Chairperson; Mr Mahommed Surtee – CEO, Haka Game Park, holding the Corporate Care Award floating trophy; Mr Charles Butau – Haka Game Park with miniature trophy; Mrs Rosemarie Callaghan – Chairperson of APC presented the trophies.