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ZCTF Report - July 2012
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
July 11, 2012

Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.

Cree Indian Prophecy

MANHUNT FOR POACHERS

6 suspected armed poachers were cornered by 2 game rangers at Robins Camp in Hwange National Park last week. The poachers managed to escape leaving 22 elephant tusks at the scene. The rangers opened fire on them which resulted in an exchange of gunfire.

Police and rangers have been deployed from Sinamatella and Main Camp to look for carcasses in the national park area and also to try and track down the poachers.

CHIREDZI RIVER CONSERVANCY INVADED

About 500 Zanu PF supporters recently invaded Ruware Ranch, one of the richest wildlife sanctuaries in the Lowveld. Ruware Ranch is part of the Chiredzi River Conservancy. The invaders, led by a war veteran known as Comrade Shorty, were reportedly accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement. Shorty stated that they were not invading the land. He said it was acquired through the Ministry of Lands 12 years ago and was just waiting for redistribution. A source in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement said that they had been pressured by top government officials to distribute the land ahead of the elections. An MDC Member of Parliament stated it was a tactic used by Zanu PF for buying votes through land distribution, violence and rigging. He also questioned the logic of distributing that land 12 years after it had allegedly been acquired.

CHINESE MINING IN GWAYI

Chinese mining firms have sprouted in the wildlife area, extracting coal and prospecting for other minerals. The Hwange/Gwayi Conservation and Tourism Association was recently forced to call a stakeholders' meeting to find a solution to the illegal Chinese mining activities which have resulted in massive pollution of rivers and are threatening to upset the flora and fauna. After a proper analysis, they established that there would be greater value in preserving the area as it is rather than allocating it for coal mining activities. One of the Chinese mining companies was recently fined $1000 by the Environmental Management Agency for mining coal without an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate. The area now occupied by the miners had previously served as a corridor between Hwange National Park, the Forestry Commission, the Gwayi Intensive Conservation Area and the Binga Conservation Area. Removing the corridor would obstruct the free movement of animals like the Presidential Elephants. Attempts to establish if the government gave the Chinese mining rights in Gwayi have proved fruitless.

ZAMBEZI RIVER NEW YEAR PARTY

There are many suitable venues to hold a New Year party and yet people persist in holding them in areas reserved for wildlife. A 48-hour New Year party is currently being organised to take place on an island in the Zambezi River in front of Tiger Safaris. The organiser, Campbell Carruthers, claims to have received permission from National Parks although National Parks state that they have not yet granted permission for the party to go ahead.

The live bands will disrupt the entire waterfront and both Zambian and Zimbabwean lodges will be affected. The organisers of the party are hoping to attract 3000 people. All the lodges in Chirundu are already fully booked for that period so where would all these additional people stay and where would they perform their ablutions? According to the advertisement, portable toilets will be placed on the island but how many times will these toilets have to be emptied if they are being used by 3000 people and where will they be emptied? Into the river? How much litter will be thrown into the river during the event?

The island has large quantities of reeds and is home to many species of birds. At least 4 crocodiles and a pod of hippos are resident and elephants often frequent the island. A party of this magnitude will disturb if not destroy the ecosystem on the island and the safety of the partygoers is also a concern. There is a very real danger of drowning and animal attacks.

We appeal to the National Parks department to do the right thing and refuse to allow this party to take place.

ELEPHANTS SHOT IN TSHOLOTSHO

We have received reports that an undisclosed number of elephants have been shot in Tsholotsho, North West of Bulawayo. It is alleged that the shooting has been carried out by a hunter accompanied by an ex National Parks warden.

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