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Statement on allegations against ZCTF
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
June 20, 2005

It is the expressed and unequivocal purpose and policy of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force to work without financial or material gain and to be completely independent of political predilection towards the holistic preservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife, associated environments and natural resources for the absolute benefit of the country and as an incontrovertible legacy to future generations of Zimbabweans.

It is stated without reservation, that the allegations made against myself of exaggeration and misguided attempts to raise funds for personal gain, are falsely made by the uninformed, and in many cases the culpable perpetrators.

Abundant evidence exists amongst the vast majority of local, regional and international supporters of wildlife and natural resources stakeholders.

Since the inception of the ZCTF in 2001, numerous attempts have been made to bring to the attention of all stakeholders and various authorities, the intolerable and unsustainable magnitude of the following :

• Extensive wildlife destruction through poaching within and without proclaimed wildlife areas using inhumane means
• Organised illegal hunting by known individuals and organisations within and without proclaimed hunting areas and with a total disregard for the balance of species and the sustainability of offtake.
• The decimation of aquatic natural resources by careless netting and illegal fishing practices including poisoning.
• The decimation of vast tracts of pristine, natural woodland areas through injudicious deforestation
• The destruction of natural watercourses, rivers and dams through alluvial gold mining and panning and the subsequent embankment and surrounding natural environment destruction.
• The illegal dealing in and exporting and smuggling of wild animals and wildlife by-products

Given the reluctance of role players and authorities to hear and heed the evidence of the ZCTF, coupled with their unwillingness to cooperate on extensive malpractice information, or to launch their own initiatives and as a result of which, the concerns as outlined have been related to the media by the ZCTF based on the best possible information and evidence. In so doing without fabrication or any malicious intent whatsoever, the ZCTF has endeavoured to portray the true picture pertaining to environmental and wildlife issues in Zimbabwe.

The extensive data collated since 2001 by ZCTF, has been provided by private individuals, by employees of various authorities and by attentive organisations, each with direct access to bear witness, and all of whom share equal anxiety for the current and future preservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife. For obvious reasons, the individual identities within this witness sector cannot be made public under the current dispensation.

It is imperative that it be widely known, that the current rate of devastation across Zimbabwe through thoughtless and irresponsible malpractice, regardless of culpability, is directly and rapidly serving to irretrievably harm :

• Covenants of best practice for natural resource management
• Species diversity availability and permanence
• Sensitive species breeding stocks and natural regeneration thereof
• Water courses, rivers, dams and wetland environments
• Fishing and related aquatic based enterprises
• Tourism and foreign exchange capital ventures
• Hunting and foreign exchange capital ventures
• Forest and pristine woodland stability and sustainable harvesting thereof
• Large-scale commercial and communal agriculture
• Ethnic cultures and natural ancestral heritage sites and areas

Seed capital in the form of residual wildlife stocks required for recovery of wildlife and the natural environment is currently perilously positioned. Recovery to normalcy is now estimated to be up to and beyond fifteen years.

Given this precarious situation, ALL STAKEHOLDERS are encouraged to seek early dialogue with one another and the ZCTF to firstly, resolve and reconcile any differences. Secondly, to share pertinent information and concerns with a view to implementing strategic options in the best interests of preserving Zimbabwe’s wildlife resources.

Open dialogue is the cornerstone to securing resolutions in the challenges that lie ahead. The ZCTF subscribes to this principle and mindful of such extends an open invitation to ALL STAKEHOLDERS, to meet in a transparent and frank manner for the purpose of allaying all issues.

Thank you,

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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