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The Presidential elephants of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
September 17, 2004

‘The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe’ inhabit the Hwange Estate, bordering Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.  Tourists came from around the world to experience this habituated elephant herd. The elephants were studied and monitored. 

By the early 2000s things were turning bad. Between 2001 and 2003 over 30 elephants were encountered with snare wounds. But what was to happen in September 2003 was even more horrifying. A government official claimed the State Land area of Kanondo (home to ‘The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe’, and which  -  just as absurdly for one man to ‘own’  -  also includes the Hwange National Park Airport). In addition, this government official also laid claim to the adjoining ‘Touch the Wild’s’ Katshana lodge and the land surrounding it. These two properties he greedily added to another three that he had reputedly already ‘acquired’. He also managed to acquire hunting quotas, and the gunfire started on land not hunted for more than 30 years. 

By 2004 much was in ruins. Safari operators were no longer allowed on the land. Zimbabwe’s flagship herd was inaccessible, and under threat. The waterholes were left to dry up completely, and those few that did hold water were under-utilized by the wildlife. Gunfire had scared them off. Even the researchers and conservationists have now been banned from the land. Is the government of Zimbabwe content to sit back and watch one of their own destroy what The President pledged in 1990 to protect? "The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe."  What did the ‘Presidential decree’ mean? Does no-one care that it is being blatantly abused by a greedy official?

Hand back the land Governor Obert Mpofu. Your time is up. 

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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