2003 Archives
These pages have been compiled from various news reports relevant to conservation, wildlife and environment in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the 'Accellerated Land Redistribution' campaign in 2000. They have been arranged in chronological order and are being compiled in order to achieve a more holistic view of what has happened in Zimbabwe over the last four years--from a conservation perspective. We have been somewhat selective in the posting of these reports to avoid tedious duplication, or misinformation but if there is something we have missed please contact us.
November/December 2003
5 December-- Wildlife, Habitat, Environment Protection and Community Integration Action... A group of environmentalists, conservationists, educationalists, biodiversity management professionals, game ranchers and concerned members of the public attended a meeting in Bulawayo on 5th December 2003, to discuss pertinent issues towards constructing a strategy to present Heads of Argument to the government, specific ministerial departments, the Office of the President of Zimbabwe and role playing organisations and individuals, for appropriate approval and support for the re-introduction of competent management in wildlife, natural habitats, environmentally sensitive areas in synergy with dependent community integration and development initiatives.
27 November-- Threatened extinction of the endangered wattled crane... We have another tragedy looming due to the Land Reform Programme and the absence of law and order. Dr CM Nherera, who bears the illustrious titles of "Vice Chancellor of the Chinhoyi University of Technology" and "Chairman of the Zimbabwe United Bus Company", has taken illegal occupation of the Cannonkopje Crane Centre.
17 November--Zim tourism police unit to protect foreign guests... A special tourism police unit is to be set up "aimed at increasing the safety of tourists in all the country's tourist destinations"
5 November--Illegal hunts wiping out Zimbabwe's wildlife... Zimbabwe wildlife is being slaughtered by poachers, biltong hunters and illegal safari operators who are taking advantage of the country's unsettled situation to fill their pockets.
September/October 2003
25 October--Unholy Slaughter... Zimbabwe's woes are bringing grief to its wildlife, too...
1 October-- Poaching threatens Zimbabwe wildlife... There is a war raging in the Zimbabwean bush and the wildlife is losing. Poaching of wild animals on the formerly white-owned ranches is out of control. ***READ ZANU PF's response to this article here....
25 August--New commercial poaching pressures Zimbabwe's rhinos...Harare, Zimbabwe - WWF in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and other conservation agencies, is assisting in emergency responses to increasing rhino poaching pressures.
16 September-- Hunting barred, chefs told...The Department of National Parks and Wildlife has barred influential politicians and businessmen allocated properties in protected wildlife sanctuaries in Matabeleland North province under the A2 resettlement scheme from carrying out any hunting activities, the Sunday Mirror has learnt.
6 September--Lions facing starvation as Mugabe men seize famous wildlife park... Although not a farm and with no government notices issued for its acquisition, the 1,100-acre Lion and Cheetah Park was taken by a retired colonel, K Makavanga, accompanied by a group of Zanu PF militia.
3 September-- Endangered Wild Dogs Caught in Poaching Stampede... Poaching, fuelled by Zimbabwe's chaotic land-reform programme, has led to the demise of three out of five study packs, or over 30 dogs in the last 18 months.
September--Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls rainforest is slowly dying...A study by a local NGO, Environment Africa has revealed that the lush rainforest, a center of attraction for tourists in Victoria Falls, is fast losing its biodiversity because of the spreading alien plant species, Lantana Camara commonly known as Cherry Pie or Tick Berry.
July/August 2003
13 August-- Zim wildlife pillage continues... Beleaguered Zimbabwean farmers say war veterans and hunters from South Africa and Botswana are stripping game farms of their wildlife.
9 August-- The fight to preserve Zimbabwe's wildlife is being led by an emerging black majority. Letter to financial times by CEO of African Wildlife Foundation.
7 August-- Tragedy Strikes the African Painted Dog Project in Zimbabwe... In the last few days tragedy has struck the Painted Dog Research Project near Hwange Park, Zimbabwe. One of the projects best-known study packs, the Abangane, have been wiped out by poachers
August-- Commercial poaching pressures Zimbabwe's rhinos... WWF, in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and other conservation agencies, is assisting in emergency responses to increasing rhino poaching in Zimbabwe.
July-- SA Hunters arrested in Zimbabwe... A party of twelve South African hunters belonging to a Christian organisation were arrested in Zimbabwe on Friday last week for illegal hunting on listed properties in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South.
May/June 2003
June--Under Seige...For decades, nature lovers have visited the little known and unspoilt Haka game park on the Cleveland catchment area.
16 June--Africa's wildlife 'to be privatised...A South African private company has said that it has plans to take over a string of national parks throughout Africa. The plan will benefit Zambia, Malawi Mozambique. Sub-Saharan countries said to benefit from the plan are Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique.
4 May -- Environmental information on the Zambezi River Basin cuts across borders of Riparian States...Most of the natural resources in the Zambezi River Basin are shared and achieving sound natural resource management requires a common understanding of the natural resource base.
March/April 2003
no reports...help us fill in the gaps.
January/February 2003
31 January--Poaching 'hasn't affected peace park'... Horrific scenes of poaching and cruelty to animals in Zimababwe that were shown on South African television at the weekend were filmed in a privately-owned conservancy area, and there have been no such incidents in the Gona-re-Zhou national park in southwestern Zimbabwe, say senior Peace Parks Foundation officials.