http://allafrica.com/stories/201512160515.html



Zimbabwe: Minister Fingers Top Officials in Poaching

Highly placed people, staff in rural district councils and safari operators are involved in poaching, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking after receiving from China vehicles, a helicopter, a drone and an assortment of equipment worth $2 million for anti-poaching. The equipment was received at a colourful event at Hwange National Park last Friday.

She said: "As we frantically try to protect our wildlife from organised gangs internally and externally, we are now confronted with increased illegal activity by our own people and organisations that connive to undermine Zimbabwean laws, international laws and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations.

"We are aware that an increasing number of highly placed people, our rangers, safari operators, professional hunters, land owners, some rural district councils as well as some communities are involved in poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

"These culprits are also to blame for the few resources that are accruing to communities under the CAMPFIRE programme through their quest for shameful profits and gain." The equipment came hardly two weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Zimbabwe where he, together with President Mugabe, witnessed the signing of a number of economic recovery deals.



The helicopter and the drone would give new impetus to Zimbabwe's anti-poaching drive as they would provide a wider physical and technical coverage to Hwange National Park, which at 14 700 square km, is almost the size of Belgium.

Chinese ambassador Mr Huang Ping handed over part of the equipment.

The consignment, which includes off-road trucks, back-up parts, solar chargers, uniforms, sleeping bags, a helicopter and a drone, was sourced through the Sino-Zimbabwe Wildlife Foundation, a hybrid non-governmental organisation formed between National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe and Chinese well-wishers.

Sino-Zimbabwe Wildlife Foundation has announced a $500 000 funding for national parks for 2016. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri expressed gratitude to chiefs and communities for the pivotal role they are playing in reporting cases of poaching and helping to ensure criminals are brought to book.

She said the donation had come at the right time when Government was working on strengthening wildlife protection and conservation in the country's two major parks - Hwange and Mana Pools.

"The procurement of these items would not have come at a better time than this one considering that both Government and players in the wildlife sector are confronted with a myriad of challenges which need to be addressed urgently, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

"Our conservation efforts are under threat from increased poaching, illegal trade, international restrictions and reduced community benefits from wildlife. These challenges have been exacerbated by our limitation as Government to adequately monitor and enforce wildlife regulations due to limited resources and manpower."

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government had since embarked on the implementation of short-term plans in stamping out the rampant poaching activities and addressing the critical issues at CAMPFIRE.

Mr Huang said his country was committed to combating poaching and enhancing conservation efforts. "Wildlife is important to all of us," he said. "I hope this equipment will go a long way in helping to conserve wildlife in Zimbabwe. Wildlife is an important part of the living things and natural ecological systems on earth.

"By donating this equipment, China is expressing its goodwill to co-operate with our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters to ensure the survival and prosperity of wildlife here."

I wonder which mineral rights were traded for this?

Cynical? Moi?

What do they expect?

The government was at the forefront of lawlessness, and it just has to continue down the line!

And this is news.

Wow. Here is a new one - who would have thought it?

It is just semi - amazing sometimes.

Its good to see a government official call out corruption.

The mere suggestion that china cares one bit about the decimation of wildlife. Is laughable at best.

I think this is very positiv. Sure there are problems in the Zim government - but putting words on the problem is the first and very importent step in the right direction.

Well done Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
I think this is very positiv. Sure there are problems in the Zim government - but putting words on the problem is the first and very importent step in the right direction.

Well done Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

Muchinguri is on the U.S. sanctions list of Zimbabwians that Americans can't do business with. I believe she is also on a similar EU list but am not positive. I don't think she is allowed into the US or the EU except for going to UN locations. She is on that list for corruption and stealing from her people.

On the surface this announcement sounds great. In reality, look for her to have a new off-road vehicle and to be the envy of other ZANU PF Ministers by having a helicopter at her disposal.

The better question is how many elephants are going to die to repay this "donation".

Pardon my cynicism, but I don't see her changing spots at this point in her life.

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
I think this is very positiv. Sure there are problems in the Zim government - but putting words on the problem is the first and very importent step in the right direction.

Well done Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

Muchinguri is on the U.S. sanctions list of Zimbabwians that Americans can't do business with. I believe she is also on a similar EU list but am not positive. I don't think she is allowed into the US or the EU except for going to UN locations. She is on that list for corruption and stealing from her people.

On the surface this announcement sounds great. In reality, look for her to have a new off-road vehicle and to be the envy of other ZANU PF Ministers by having a helicopter at her disposal.

The better question is how many elephants are going to die to repay this "donation".

Pardon my cynicism, but I don't see her changing spots at this point in her life.

You might be right but I hope you are not.

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

quote:

Originally posted by Kuwinda:
I wonder which mineral rights were traded for this?

Cynical? Moi?

all of them, plus logging rights too, I would imagine. Bob and the boys Swiss retirement accounts just took a big jump

Does anyone else have a problem with the title of this thread?

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
I think this is very positiv. Sure there are problems in the Zim government - but putting words on the problem is the first and very importent step in the right direction.

Well done Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

Muchinguri is on the U.S. sanctions list of Zimbabwians that Americans can't do business with. I believe she is also on a similar EU list but am not positive. I don't think she is allowed into the US or the EU except for going to UN locations. She is on that list for corruption and stealing from her people.

On the surface this announcement sounds great. In reality, look for her to have a new off-road vehicle and to be the envy of other ZANU PF Ministers by having a helicopter at her disposal.

The better question is how many elephants are going to die to repay this "donation".

Pardon my cynicism, but I don't see her changing spots at this point in her life.

You might be right but I hope you are not.

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

I too hope I am wrong.

Old age has jaded the sense of righteousness and justice that prevailed in my youth in regards to things Africa.

We really shouldn't be surprised - the last time I was in Zim ( quite some time ago) the PH I was with had a mate who was the last white officer in the Zimbabwe army and was flying helicopters (Zim army helos to be clear)- in the Katanga (Zaire) - protecting Bob's diamond mining "interests" there, which he had picked up from helping the current Great Dictator fend off rebels - with the Zim army.

SoS?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Does anyone else have a problem with the title of this thread?

I had to look at the heading again on this post.
That is funny!!!!

And just who are the safari operators and professional hunters that SHE has fingered?

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
And just who are the safari operators and professional hunters that SHE has fingered?

Theo Bronkhorst. List may get pretty short after that.

That's just the trouble - it's a PR exercise that didn't name any names and follows on from recent rumblings about "indigenizing" the safari industry. It's nice to see the Chinese supplying much-needed materiel but at the end of the day any efforts to deal with corruption will only go so high because the whole system is corrupt.

quote:

Originally posted by Thunder Head:
Its good to see a government official call out corruption.

The mere suggestion that china cares one bit about the decimation of wildlife. Is laughable at best.