Zimbabwe: Parks Boss Suspended

28 June 2016, 23:31

http://allafrica.com/stories/201606280848.html

Zimbabwe: Parks Boss Suspended

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Mr Edson Chidziya was yesterday suspended to pave way for investigations following anomalies identified in rhino horns stockpiles.

In a statement yesterday, the ZPWMA said Mr Chidziya would be on forced leave for the next 60 days in order for him not to interfere with the probe.

"Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority announces the sending on leave of the authority's director-general Mr Edson Chidziya. The move has been taken to allow for an audit.

"Mr Chidziya will be on full benefits for the 60 days. Meanwhile, Mr Wilson Mutinhima who is a non-executive board member and chair of the Conservation and Human Resources committee will be in charge," reads the statement.

Reports say the country has over five tonnes of rhino horns that it cannot sell because of the Convention on International Trade in Endangers Species (CITES) restrictions.

Recently, Mr Chidziya was quoted by our sister paper the Sunday News as saying the country's ivory stockpile was continuously increasing from many sources such as culling of problem animals and natural deaths.

28 June 2016, 23:38

twoseventy

What? Missing rhino horn? I'm shocked. Shocked!

...I say that hunters go into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than any other men.
-Edward, duke of York

". . . when a man has shot an elephant his life is full." ~John Alfred Jordan

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." Cicero - 55 BC

"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand

Cogito ergo venor- KPete

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.”
― Adam Smith - “Wealth of Nations”

29 June 2016, 13:07

Barry Groulx

Sadly it looks like his involvement may only be that the buck stops in his office, but this has been an ongoing problem for some time. The odd horn going missing at the hands of a junior opportunist or more vanishing at the behest of higher-ups. What is certain is that the DG may fall, but no heavyweight politicos will be touched.

29 June 2016, 15:17

larryshores

About what I figured.

29 June 2016, 17:12

peashooter

I wonder if this will effect the issuing of hunting permits to the outfitters?

29 June 2016, 19:18

Kathi

http://www.africanews.com/2016...ices-boss-suspended/

228 kilograms missing.

29 June 2016, 19:20

Kathi

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news...0?platform=hootsuite

Zimbabwe wildlife agency suspends boss over missing rhino horns

Jun. 28, 2016, 3:00 pm
By REUTERS

Zimbabwe's wildlife authority has suspended its director general and is investigating the disappearance of 228 kg (500 pounds) of the agency's stored rhino horn, it said on Tuesday.

The southern African nation keeps in storage 70 tonnes of ivory from elephants and rhinos - worth at least $35 million - and is seeking support from neighbouring countries to engage in international trade in ivory.

Namibia is also bidding to open international ivory trade but Kenya is leading initiatives for a complete global ban.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZPWA) said in a statement that it had sent Edson Chidziya on leave with full pay to facilitate the investigation.

"The move has been taken to allow for an audit. This follows anomalies in the rhino horn stock piles amounting to 228 kilogrammes," the ZPWA said. It gave no further details.

Chidziya declined to comment on his suspension.