MDC calls for probe into Hwange elephant killings

Movement for Democratic Change Shadow Minister for Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Thamsanqa Mahlangu has called for a commission of inquiry to look into the killing of elephants in Hwange National Park where up to 300 elephants are said to have been killed in the past five months.

Mahlangu says senior Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front officials, wildlife management authority officials and the police are involved in the killings and not the villagers from Tsholotsho who are now being arrested and tortured by the authorities.

“As a party, the MDC condemns these arrests as they are totally primitive, inhumane and degrading. We reiterate our position that the people involved in the purchasing of cyanide that is used to kill the elephants are not the villagers but a well connected and orchestrated international syndicate, which involves some senior politicians in conjunction with senior wild park officials,” Mahlangu said in a statement, the second within a week.

“The trade in cyanide is a complex business, which simple villagers in Matabeleland North cannot trade in without the involvement of well connected politicians and corrupt officials who are linked to ZANU-PF.”

Mahlangu dismissed Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s denial that ZANU-PF officials were involved saying the government should commission an investigation.

Below are Mahlangu’s two statements:

Friday, 25 October 2013

MDC demands probe into Hwange elephant killings

The MDC demands the immediate step-up of an independent commission that will fully investigate who is behind the massive killing of elephants at the Hwange national park.

The MDC’s demands follow the recent unlawful arrests and severe torture of villagers in Tsholotsho and surrounding villages by the police and game rangers and claims by Zanu PF that it is not behind the killings. This is happening when the massacre of the elephants for their ivory continues to increase.

As a party, the MDC condemns these arrests as they are totally primitive, inhumane and degrading. We reiterate our position that the people involved in the purchasing of cyanide that is used to kill the elephants are not the villagers but a well connected and orchestrated international syndicate, which involves some senior politicians in conjunction with senior wild park officials.

The trade in cyanide is a complex business, which simple villagers in Matabeleland North cannot trade in without the involvement of well connected politicians and corrupt officials who are linked to Zanu PF.

It is therefore premature and unreasonable for Saviour Kasukuwere, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate to dismiss the claims but he should set up an urgent commission that will investigate who is behind the massive poaching and environment damage taking place in Hwange.

The government must provide a lasting solution to this challenge.

Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that jobs are created in these areas so that people are uplifted enough to know the benefit of the animals to their community. The government must ensure that the people’s dignity is restored to protect the villagers from the well resourced poaching syndicates who are paying them as little as US$500 to poison the water

points.

The people must benefit from the natural resources in their areas so that they may protect them from external attack.

The MDC’s position is that the best security the country’s national parks are the people who live around them and that is why in our JUICE policy, the MDC advocates for cluster economic development to support local industries for national development and job creation.

Hon. Thamsanqa Mahlangu

MDC Shadow Minister for Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Statement by the MDC Shadow Minister of Environment on Hwange poaching

The MDC notes with serious concern and strongly condemns the on-going massive poaching of wildlife especially elephants at the Hwange national park.

Hwange is Africa’s third largest wildlife sanctuary after Tanzania’s Serengeti and South Africa’s Kruger national park.

Over 100 elephants have been ruthlessly killed in recent months by well resourced and heavily armed internationally linked poaching syndicates that are operating in the vast and Zimbabwe’s largest national game park.

It is shocking to note that since May,the country has lost at least 325 elephants to poachers; 300 were killed in the Tsholotsho district, 15 in Ngoma and 10 near the main camp in Hwange national park. An unspecified number of endangered species, including vultures and lions, have died after feeding on the carcasses of the elephants.

The MDC is further concerned that the poachers are poisoning water at the game park with the deadly cyanide chemical and all animals are now at risk of being wiped out through the disastrous acts of the poachers. The actions of the poachers are developing a serious ecological disaster at one of the country’s key tourist attraction.

As a party, the MDC is worried that the illegal activities at the Hwange national park will not only have an effect on the wild animals but also poses a severe threat on the day to day operations of the entire nation as tourism is one of the country’s key income generating sectors.

It is alarming that the poachers are alleged to be connected to well known senior government, Zanu PF, the Zimbabwe Wildlife Management Authority officials and police officers. While authorities have left no stone unturned in arresting villagers, they have cast a blind eye on the major players connected to government that are involved in this international syndicate of illegal trade in ivory.

The MDC is convinced that the few poachers that have been arrested are junior players while the key players who are well connected in the murky Zanu PF circles are being left to continue with high scale poaching activities. Those that have been arrested were paid as little as US$500 by the well linked ZanuPF syndicates to poison the water wells with the cyanide chemicals.

The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate and the Zimbabwe Republic Police should walk their talk on fighting any form of corruption and reign in its officials who are causing massive ecological disaster by killing elephants for their tusks.The poaching in Hwange should be stopped immediately in order to secure our natural resources for future generations and all perpetrators should be brought to book without fear or favour. There should be no sacred cows.

Hon.Thamsanqa Mahlangu (MP)

Shadow Minister of Environment,Tourism and Natural Resources

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