Government disowns wildlife consortium

Government has dismissed the claimed mandate of the newly-formed outfit Hwange Conservation Consortium (HCC), saying it only recognises the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority as the sole agency responsible for all wildlife conservation in the country.

The statement by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate comes in the wake of reports of the formation of a conservation organisation, the HCC, to counter the Zimbabwe Wildlife Management Plan.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the HCC was against the Government's wildlife management methods and had plans to counter them by implementing its own management strategies with the assistance of its affiliates.

The ministry said the ZPWMA was guided by its national mandate and international obligations and commitments under various multilateral agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

It therefore embraces the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe on how they would want to see their wildlife heritage governed.

Zimbabwe has been affected by sanctions and is having difficulties in conserving its wildlife.