Zimbabwe: MPs Call for Ivory Value-Addition
Zimbabwe: MPs Call for Ivory Value-Addition
Conrad Mupesa, The Herald
June 19, 2024
Parliamentarians have urged the Government to add value to the country's
ivory stockpile and skins for the nation to realise full benefit from its
wildlife resources.
This, the legislators said, could be a parallel process to negotiations by
Zimbabwe and other countries for the resumption of ivory sales banned
internationally in 1989 by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES).
Speaking in Kadoma on Friday during a two-day capacity development workshop
for Parliamentarians on the Parks and Wildlife Management Bill organised by
Accountability Lab, Kwekwe proportional representative legislator, Ms
Perseverance Zhou said: "Since we can't leave CITES, why not then value add
the ivory and skins we have in abundance.
History has it that kings and royal families wore elephant skins.
"The Government has introduced Education 5.0, which is a hands-on approach.
Why can't we have our colleges and universities value add this so that we
benefit from wildlife resources?"
Another legislator, Mrs Concilia Chinanzvavana said wildlife resources were
key to economic transformation.
Legislators, however, were generally of the view that the Bill's silence on
the amount to be paid to victims of human/wildlife conflict, who currently
get a relief fund, was worrisome.
"Why are we calling it a relief fund and not compensation. Above all, there
is no stipulated figure for relief which raises concerns.
"Our communities are losing lives, property and crops to wild animals and
the Bill has to be clear on this," Hurungwe West Member of Parliament,
Chinjai Kambuzuma said.
The Portfolio Committee on Environment is expected to embark on public
hearings from July 8 with the committee chairperson, Ms Joanna Mamombe
confident that the outreach programmes will incorporate the views of
communities.
Ms Mamombe said there were budgetary constrains for the outreach programmes
and pleaded with civil society to extend a helping hand.
Accountability Lab deputy chief of party, Mr Beloved Chiweshe said there
was need for accountability in the management of resources in the fight
against corruption and illegal poaching for communities to benefit from
wildlife resources.
His organisation, he said, was going to play a part in the outreach
programmes.
Mr Ignatious Maeresa of the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association
(ZELA) unpacked the principles of crafting an effective Parks and Wildlife
Management Bill, saying there were grey areas that needed to be polished
before its enactment.
ZELA has crafted a document containing the issues that have to be addressed
by the statute.
Officials from the Resilience Anchors, a civil society organisation
operating mainly in Manicaland, believe a well-crafted Parks and Wildlife
Management Bill will help promote economic growth, conservation of
biodiversity and water resources, improving community livelihoods, and
promoting resilience.
Zimparks acting director for Legal and Corporate Services, Mr Lisberty
Chadenga said the aspect of relief fund needed to be approached from a
scientific and realistic manner, adding some attributes on the section were
borrowed from other countries including Kenya where compensation was
problematic.
Contributions on the Bill, he said, were taken from affected communities,
concerned constituencies and organisations.
The two-day workshop was attended by Members of Parliament, officials from
various organisations that play a part in wildlife management and
conservationists.