'Soldiers involved in poaching'

Source: Zimbabwe Independent

Date: 29 September 2007

Author: Anon

Wildlife decimated as govt policy kills beef industry

HARARE - Powerful Zimbabwean politicians and soldiers are behind an upsurge in poaching activities, a wildlife conservation expert claimed yesterday.

Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce chairperson Johnny Rodriques said poaching had increased dramatically because of a shortage of beef, spawned by a government directive in June to slash prices and the subsequent withdrawal of licences from private abattoirs. This has seen a spike in sales of game meat, the bulk of which is obtained illegally through a network of well-connected poachers.

"It has become a big problem. Wild animals have become the latest victim of this economic crisis," Rodrigues told ZimOnline.

In the past, conservation groups targeted border areas for poachers but the past few months have seen an upsurge in inland poaching.

"We are getting reports from all over the country about an increasing number of baby elephants, buffalo and other animals being killed or injured in snares," said Rodrigues.
He accused soldiers of being at the forefront of poaching activities.

"We think it has to do with the fact that they are very lowly paid and they sell the meat to nearby shop owners to raise cash.

"We also have information that senior politicians are employing gangs involved in poaching," said Rodrigues.

According to sources, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), responsible for managing the country's wildlife population, has been asked to provide game meat to the Zimbabwe National Army.

ZimOnline is reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was now feeding trainees on game meat obtained from various safaris.
It was not possible to verify these reports with the ZPWMA, ZNA or ZRP yesterday. But Environment and Tourism Minister Francis Nhema yesterday denied reports of increased poaching.

Rodrigues accused the ZPWMA of complicity in the poaching activities, charging that the authority had refused to give his organisation permits to provide assistance to wounded wildlife.

"They want to keep a lid on information relating to poaching because their people are mostly involved," he said.

"The authority sends its capture teams when we report wounded animals. But all the capture teams do is shoot dead the animals and load them into their trucks. No care is being provided at all," said Rodrigues. - ZimOnline