State Does Not Intend to Have Ban in Ivory Trade Lifted, Says Nhema

Date: 13 August 2004

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Author: Anon

Harare--[The] Government does not intend to have the ban on trade in ivory lifted because it protects the number of elephants in the country, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, told Parliament on Wednesday.

He was responding to a question from Murewa North MP Cde Victor Chitongo (Zanu-PF) who wanted to know how the Government intended to dispose of ivory stocks in the country.

Cde Nhema said ivory stocks were being auctioned occasionally, mostly to those in the curio industry. He said the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) helped to make sure that the country protected its endangered animal species.

Cites in 1999 allowed Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana to hold one-off auctions of their existing stockpiles of ivory.

At least $54 million was raised at the one-off international auction of raw ivory tusks to Japan during the same year.

The country's elephant population is 89 000, which is almost double the country's carrying capacity of 45 000.