Zimbabweans have every reason to mourn Cecil the Lion

It has been more than a month since Cecil encountered his death after being murdered by the American hunter Palmer.

Cecil's death was met with mixed reactions between the international community and local Zimbabweans.

Whilst it was rage, dismay grief across the globe especially in the United States Of America where animal lovers rallied to condemn his gruesome murder, with some even calling for the hunter's head, it was business as usual in Cecil's native land of Zimbabwe. His death could have gone unnoticed at all if it wasn't for the outcry that erupted on social media and on international news channels. How ironic, how could it be that someone becomes popular to an iconic status abroad whilst in his own country his death registers very little attention and even stirs no emotion at all? Sounds more like a prophet not being honorable in his home country except in this case it's a lot less about dishonor but more of ignorance and carelessness at the plight of Zimbabwe wildlife, an issue we have been reiterating ever since the Voices for African Wildlife was formed, and for that reason too.  

It is not surprising to us that the majority of Zimbabweans didn't know anything about Cecil before his death as visiting game parks is a privilege that very few enjoys. But it is the uncaring attitude that is a cause for concern and how unfortunate that as a nation we have believed the lie that animals does not matter to Zimbabwe/Africa and that there are more important  issues to worry or moan about than the death of Cecil or rather the death of a lion or any other animal.

It is also because of this attitude that Cecil was murdered and as long as we don't appreciate our wild heritage the murder of lions and all other wild animals in the name of sport/conservation will continue unchecked and we will always emerge as the biggest losers. What Zimbabweans should realize is that Cecil's darlingness to the world was not without rewards and failure to moan for him and celebrate his life is a sure act of unappreciation as it was Zimbabwe that was benefiting from his celebrated life through tourism revenues approximated at between US$35.00 - $55.000 per month over a lifespan of 13 years.

Now it's only a month after his death and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is already reporting a significant drop in tourists visiting the country because of a loss of a major tourism attraction in Cecil coupled with the negativity surrounding his death. In view of this, it is evident that we deceive ourselves if we say we have not lost and as such we have no reason to mourn. In fact it is a time for us to be ashamed that the world's most beloved lion was Zimbabwean yet we knew him not until after his death and it should not end there but let Cecil's death mark a turning point in our relationship with our wild heritage.

Instead of being a Nation that will be remembered for contempt towards our wild heritage let us rise together to fight against this crime that has robbed us of our world beloved Cecil before we are robbed of all of our Cecils. To the majority of Zimbabweans Cecil may not be a darling he was to the international community but that does ot make him insignificant. Infact he is just as significant as the rest of our beloved wildlife and those who fail victim to trophy hunting may have gone unnoticed but they are still as significant as Cecil was. Let us celebrate our wildlife today and strongly contend for a total ban of this evil that robbed us of the Cecils in the past, that robbed us of Cecil today and that can still rob us of our remaining Cecils.

TO ZIMBABWEANS

Let us be proud of our heritage and let's show that we care. Let us be at the forefront of the struggle for the conservation of our remaining Cecil.

Let us not be spectators whilst the global community fights the evil that is in our house but let's appreciate and not condemn those who are fighting for us, our government may not agree with the Western countries on almost all fronts but that should not hinder us from fighting a common enemy together as our loss is their loss too and our victory is also victory to the world.

TO ANIMAL LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD

A Big salute to all animal lovers who stood strongly to condemn the murder of Cecil. Those animal lovers in the USA who are fighting for justice to prevail, we are appreciate and salute you all.

By Kenesias Dambakurima and the Voices for African Wildlife. Cell: +27730781656