News / National
Zim govt declares war on poachers
15 Sep 2013 at 17:48hrs | Views
A high powered delegation comprising three cabinet ministers has visited Hwange National Park and Tsholotsho this Sunday to see the effects of poaching and have since declared war against poaching.
The horror of elephant poisoning and wildlife poaching was glaring, leading to a tour of the area by the ministerial delegation comprising the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Saviour Kasukuwere; the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo and the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi.
Aboard a helicopter, the ministers flew to the scene of the recent elephants killings and watched helplessly the remains of elephants and horns, which have since been confiscated by the police.
In an interview, Kasukuwere said he is not happy with current sentences given to offenders and he will adopt a shoot to kill policy against poachers and propose stiffer penalties for the culprits.
He said he will work on a wildlife conservation model that will see communities benefiting from the conservation of wildlife, thereby creating employment.
Minister Mzembi said there is need for stakeholders to collaborate and respond to such disasters, and called for immediate isolation of affected areas and neutralisation for cyanide.
Cyanide poisoning poses a major challenge as it also kills untargeted animals and human beings.
Wildlife poaching syndicates in the country have become sophisticate as they involve gunmen and runners from surrounding areas.
The horror of elephant poisoning and wildlife poaching was glaring, leading to a tour of the area by the ministerial delegation comprising the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Saviour Kasukuwere; the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo and the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi.
Aboard a helicopter, the ministers flew to the scene of the recent elephants killings and watched helplessly the remains of elephants and horns, which have since been confiscated by the police.
In an interview, Kasukuwere said he is not happy with current sentences given to offenders and he will adopt a shoot to kill policy against poachers and propose stiffer penalties for the culprits.
He said he will work on a wildlife conservation model that will see communities benefiting from the conservation of wildlife, thereby creating employment.
Minister Mzembi said there is need for stakeholders to collaborate and respond to such disasters, and called for immediate isolation of affected areas and neutralisation for cyanide.
Cyanide poisoning poses a major challenge as it also kills untargeted animals and human beings.
Wildlife poaching syndicates in the country have become sophisticate as they involve gunmen and runners from surrounding areas.
Source - zbc
