Muzvidziwa, Victor Ngonidzashe.2013-07-242013-07-2420132013Muzvidziwa, V.N. 2013. Eco-tourism, conservancies and sustainable development : the case of Zimbabwe. J Hum Ecol. 43 (1) pp. 41-50.0970-9274http://hdl.handle.net/10413/9361The paper presents a definition of eco-tourism that puts an emphasis on conservation through utilisation, instead of an emphasis on preservation only. Eco-tourism in this paper is seen as incorporating both consumptive and non-consumption aspects. It is a definition that stresses community participation in decision making processes in relation to eco-touristic ventures and subsequent benefits derived from such ventures flowing back to local communities. The paper examines the triple role of eco-tourism in the protection, utilisation and conservation of natural and cultural resources. Tourism is by far a sector that continues to play a positive socioeconomic role in the midst of a declining economic base in the Zimbabwe of the post 2000 period. The paper views conservancies as tenurial units and goes further to examine the link between conservancies and eco-touristic ventures. The issue of sustainable eco-tourism developments in the form of conservancies is debated in the paper in the light of the socio-economic challenges Zimbabwe is going through. It is strongly argued that to avoid another case of entrenched failed development, conservancies need to be seen in a holistic manner that takes into account the role of all stakeholders or actors including the role of local communities.enEcotourism--Community participation--Zimbabwe.Ecotourism--Environmental aspects--Zimbabwe.Tourism--Economic aspects--Zimbabwe.Tourism--Social aspects--Zimbabwe.Sustainable development--Zimbabwe.Conservation of natural resources--Zimbabwe.Conservancies.Peer reviewed journal article