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Wetlands in drylands are important resources for agriculture and wildlife, but competition may result in human–wildlife conflict. We sought to understand conditions under which people and wildlife sharing wetlands in drylands may coexist. We applied track counts in riverine wetlands in the dry and wet season (n = 36 days) using belt transects, focus group discussions (n = 3), key informant interviews (n = 26), a household socio-economic survey (n = 180) and secondary data analysis to study human–wildlife interactions in a community-based wildlife management area in Zimbabwe. Twenty-six wildlife species that used riverine wetlands were identified. High population density and riverine agriculture — with access to cattle and ploughs enabling cultivation of larger fields — limited wildlife access to wetlands. Seasonality, drought, water availability and soil fertility, aggravated by limited alternative livelihood opportunities and lack of political will to control cropping and settlement in wetlands, were drivers of conflict. Hence, models based on population pressure and resource availability are insufficient to inform human–wildlife conflict mitigation. Strategies that undercut rent-seeking behaviour are needed to enable human–wildlife coexistence. Concerted action among stakeholders including linking wildlife conservation benefits to compliance with wetland-use regulations, water-user committees, water provisioning and labour-saving technologies in uplands, livelihood diversification and incentivised production of drought-tolerant crops are recommended.