The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
AT least ten ambassadors representing various Western countries will tomorrow get a chance to view Zimbabwe’s ivory stockpiles, as authorities continue to engage various stakeholders in the lobby to allow the country to trade its tusks on the international market.
The expedition, which comes ahead of the African Elephant Summit set for Hwange later this month, is also part of Government’s efforts to share solutions to wildlife conservation with its international partners.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said the envoys are from several European Union member states, as well as the United Kingdom and the United States.
“There are 10 ambassadors from European countries who will tour the country’s ivory stockpiles,” he said.
“This is part of President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement drive as well as sharing ideas and solutions in terms of wildlife conservation with international partners. We are always looking for international partners in wildlife conservation and this trip will give the envoys an appreciation of the challenges that we are facing on the ground.”
Zimbabwe is sitting on ivory and rhino horns stockpile worth over US$600 million, which it cannot sell due to a global ivory trade ban.
Zimbabwe’s huge stocks are also a result of the jumbos’ overpopulation, which is estimated to be standing at 82 000 against a carrying capacity of about 40 000.
The situation has resulted in increased incidences of human and wildlife conflict as people and animals compete for resources such as food, land and water.
Mr Farawo said since the beginning of the year, about 36 people have been trampled to death by elephants.
“On Friday, we had another case in Hwange. Since the beginning of the year, we have had over 36 cases of people killed by elephants. So you can see the consequences of having such a huge population of elephants when our resources can only cater for a small number.”
Zimbabwe and its neighbours such as Botswana, Namibia and Zambia have been trying in vain to gain enough votes to lift the ban on ivory trade at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Funds that can be raised from the proposed trade would naturally help support conservation efforts and reduce human and wildlife conflict.
The West constitutes the bulk of countries opposed to lifting the ivory trade ban.
