Prioritise people ahead of animals, says Muchinguri

PEOPLE should benefit from wildlife conservation and their rights should take precedence ahead of animal privileges, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri also implored ministers to put their political differences aside and work for the development of the country.

She said this in Chiredzi and Middle Sabi last Friday where she met communities to explore ways of reducing human wildlife conflict challenges in the two areas.

In Middle Sabi, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri received shocking reports that recently two people were trampled to death by elephants and buffaloes while 400 head of cattle were killed by lions.

Chipinge acting district administrator Mr Freeman Mavhiza said the problem of human wildlife conflict was being exacerbated by failure to maintain the fence along the Save Valley Conservancy.

The fence was last maintained in the 1960s.

Wild animals were now trespassing into villages where they are wrecking havoc.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was also told that communities were failing to access water in Save River after the conservancy owners fenced off the greater part of the river to conserve water for animals.

In response, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said people should be prioritised ahead of animals.

"What I have seen along the Save Valley Conservancy where you extended the fence to accommodate Save River — it is good that we care about animals but if that conflict with the interests of the people, the interests of the people take precedence. Let that be known," she said.

"While we should respect each other, we should not lose sight of Government priority. Animals are enjoying water when people are starving."

The minister said she was not going to extend any hunting quotas until the fence around Save Valley had been repaired.

She said she would only consider requests for hunting quarters in cases where people wanted to repair the fence and other community development projects.

"I am seeing insensitivity where people are not being protected," she said.

"We must protect the people first. I cannot allow people to hunt before protecting the people. If you come and say you want to hunt four elephants and extend the proceeds towards maintaining the fence to protect people I will give you. People have suffered enough."

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said it was disturbing that some countries were proposing a ban on elephant hunting without considering the problems these animals were causing to communities adjacent to game parks.

Said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri: "I asked when I went to Nairobi, Kenya, when they said they wanted to ban trophy hunting, why animals are being valued and prioritised more than human life.

"They only talk about banning of hunting without considering the problems being caused by these animals to communities.

"Conservancy owners should balance their business priorities with community development. People should benefit from wildlife for them to see their importance."

In Chiredzi, Minister of State for Masvingo Province Shuvai Mahofa said: "Several areas are being affected by the problem of human wildlife conflict. In some cases there are people who illegally settled themselves in conservancies and they are putting their lives in danger. Another factor is that people in this province are not happy that they are not benefiting much from wildlife conservation through indigenisation."