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Operation Nyama
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
March 09, 2005

We have just discovered that for the duration of 2004, "Operation Nyama" took place in Hwange National Park. For those who don't know, the English translation of "Nyama" is "Meat". The purpose of this operation was to provide meat for the people and it is alleged that a quota was issued, authorizing a large number of animals to be shot for "Operation Nyama". If the aim was genuinely only to feed the people, it is strange that most of the elephant bulls that were, and still are being shot, have 60 to 70 pound tusks and are in their prime. Older bulls with broken tusks are not being targeted.

We have had several complaints from tourists. "Operation Nyama" was supposed to end on the 31st December 2004 but we received a report just 3 weeks ago from a group of horrified and disgusted American tourists. They said they saw a National Parks truck which had broken down inside Hwange National Park and it was fully loaded with dead impala and buffalo. An attempt had been made to conceal the dead animals with branches and leaves but the Americans could easily see what was in the truck. They were extremely upset and said they were going to report it to their government upon their return to America.

We have had other reports of tourists cutting their visits to Hwange National Park short because they have witnessed animals being slaughtered by National Parks staff in the prime game viewing areas. These tourists said they intend to go to the press and their local Congressman when they get home.

One of the camp managers in Hwange has threatened to remove his diesel engines from the park because there is little point in spending millions of dollars on fuel to pump water to attract the game just so it can be shot for meat.

Most of the game viewing in Hwange takes place around the Main Camp area but tourists are saying there is practically no game left there. Some of the animals have been slaughtered and the others do not go there any more for fear of being shot. The tourists made scathing remarks about the shocking state of the roads and asked what their National Parks entry fees were being used for. There is also very little water being pumped into the pans.

The Zimbabwean government spends millions of dollars promoting tourism on the one hand and on the other, National Parks staff seem to be making a good job of destroying what is left of our tourism industry. One of the wardens of Main Camp has apparently been arrested for stealing eighteen of the National Parks diesel pumps, most of which were donated by conservation organizations, and selling them to the "new farmers" who are all now hunting in the areas adjoining the park.

It has been reported from Amsterdam that the Dutch customs police have seized a shipment of African elephant body parts including 22 feet, eight tusks, eight ears, three tails, a skull and an entire hide. The cargo, originating in Zimbabwe and bound for Germany was halted at Schipol Airport without proper licences. The body parts were intended for buyers in Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic and as yet, no arrests have been made. At least the dealers have lost their money because the cargo has been confiscated and will most likely be destroyed.

Everybody hoped that when National Parks became an "authority" as opposed to a government department, the wildlife would once again enjoy the protection it had before the onset of the land reform programme but the irresponsibility of the new National Parks Authority is beyond belief. It has now reached the point where the wildlife is probably safer outside the National Park areas because the people who have been entrusted with safeguarding this precious commodity are the very people who are destroying it. The Zimbabwean Government should be held accountable for this destruction of our national heritage.

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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