THE cash-strapped government is sitting on $9,6 billion worth of ivory stockpiles, which it cannot sell to the international community due to an ivory trade ban imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), Parliament was told yesterday.
BY VENERANDA LANGA/DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri made the disclosure after being asked if the country would pull out of Cites in protest.
“Zimbabwe has 96 000 tonnes of ivory, and if sold, we can get $9 billion,” she said.
“We are still trying to negotiate with other ministers so that we can be able to sell our ivory and the European Union seems to be changing its mind on lifting the ban on the sale of ivory.”
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said the ivory trade ban had stifled the country’s economic recovery programmes.
“If sold at $100 000 per kilogramme, it clearly means we have $9,6 billion worth of ivory in the country, which is sufficient to write off our debt. This is the paradox of Africa, where we are rich, but poor because our policies are prescribed to us by countries, that do not have the animals,” he said.
“They ban us from selling our stock and yet these countries, which make decisions at Cites, do not have elephants. We are not poor, but it is policies from outside that limit us.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Meanwhile, two suspected fugitive Gokwe poachers, Matandira Gomweso and Caston Magejo, have been arrested in a combined operation involving police and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers.
ZimParks spokesperson, Caroline Washaya- Moyo yesterday confirmed the arrest of the two in separate operations.
Gomweso was arrested at Msambakaruma near Matusadonha National Park on July 17 and found in possession of two elephant tusks after having been on the run since 2011 when he was granted bail for illegal possession of eight elephant tusks.
Magejo was arrested on Tuesday along Nyarushanga River in Chishakwe Save Valley Conservancy on allegations of rhino poaching, after he teamed up with other suspects identified as Moses Moses, Fainda Chitiga, Shimmer Tonderai Gwatidzo Bere and one Tsopo, who fled from the scene after they were cornered by ZimParks rangers and police. The suspects were found in possession of various assault rifles and ammunition.
