Nhema, Mpofu and Chiwenga named in rhino poaching

The names of Environment Minister Francis Nhema, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, Defence Forces chief Constantine Chiwenga and chief of conservation in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Vitalis Chadenga “repeatedly resurface in rumours” about rhino poaching- a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks last week says.

The cable dispatched on 14 December 2009 says rhino poaching in Zimbabwe was rampant because of lax law enforcement and what appeared to be collusion with senior government officials.

“Given the lax law enforcement and the numerous cases in which the accused person was granted bail or absconded, many believe bribes or pressure from senior government officials is thwarting justice in these cases,” the cable says.

But it adds: “Despite these persistent allegations, neither conservationists nor journalists have been able to uncover definitive links between specific senior officials and those who are found in possession of illegal ivory or rhino horns.

“These same conservationists and journalists, however, have been warned not to investigate too deeply into the issue, adding more legitimacy to the concerns that top government officials are involved.”

Full cable:

Viewing cable 09HARARE964, ZIMBABWE AT THE EPICENTER OF RHINO POACHING

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SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE AT THE EPICENTER OF RHINO POACHING

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SUMMARY

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¶1. (SBU) Rhino poaching continues unabated in Zimbabwe because of

lax law enforcement and what appears to be a growing Asian demand

for rhino horn. In the last three years, approximately one-quarter

of all Zimbabwe’s black rhinos have been killed by poachers. Local

conservationists are increasingly concerned that Zimbabwe’s rhinos

are on a path to extinction as government officials fail to take

adequate action to stop the slaughter and bring the rhino killers

and horn traffickers to justice. END SUMMARY.

——————————

Poaching Continues to Increase

——————————

¶2. (U) A study conducted by Zimbabwean scientists was recently

submitted to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and appears on the CITES

webpage. The report, “African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status,

Conservation and Trade,” was carried out by the NGO TRAFFIC and

details rhino conservation efforts in Zimbabwe, the Democratic

Republic of Congo, and Nepal in response to a resolution at the

CITES conference in The Hague in 2007 that asked for a study on

rhino conservation in those three countries ahead of the next CITES

meeting in Doha in March 2010.

¶3. (U) Since 2005, populations of black African rhinos have been

either stable or improving in every country in Africa except

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s black rhinos suffered significant poaching

losses in the 1990s that reduced their population to just over 300

animals in 1995. Between 1995 and 2001, some of Zimbabwe’s

intensive protection zones demonstrated the highest reproduction

rates seen in the wild, bringing the population to 500-550 black

rhinos between 2001 and 2007. However, since 2007, poaching has

increased dramatically, reducing the population to just over 400

black rhinos at present.

¶4. (U) The study estimates that around 235 rhinos (both black and

white) were killed in Zimbabwe between 2006 and 2009 — half of all

rhinos illegally killed in Africa during that time. In recent years

there has been a noticeable trend towards more sophisticated and

violent methods of killing, including AK47 assault rifles,

immobilizing drugs, poison, and cross-bows.

—————————————

Rhino Horn as a Cancer Cure in Vietnam?

—————————————

¶5. (U) A separate CITES report says that part of the problem is a

growing demand for rhino horn in Vietnam, where many believe the

horn may prevent or cure cancer. The report says that cancer

patients, in desperation, are willing to pay increasing sums for

Qpatients, in desperation, are willing to pay increasing sums for

rhino horn cures, further driving up the price and demand for rhino

horn “cures.” Rhino conservationists in Zimbabwe believe Chinese

and Vietnamese smugglers move rhino horn through South Africa to

markets in Asia, mostly China and Vietnam.

——————-

HARARE 00000964 002 OF 003

Lax Law Enforcement

——————-

¶5. (U) According to the TRAFFIC study, the number of illegal rhino

horns entering the market has increased dramatically since 2006.

Researchers have identified a minimum of 1,521 rhino horns that were

destined for illegal trade since 2006, versus 664 horns between 2000

and 2005. In Zimbabwe and South Africa, in particular, there has

been a dramatic decrease in the number of horns “recovered” by law

enforcement. In 2001, nearly 70 percent of all illegally procured

horns were intercepted, but that figure has now dropped to less than

10 percent.

¶6. (U) A study in April 2009 of poaching incidents in Zimbabwe found

that of 156 recorded rhino intentional killings or injuries, only 18

incidents resulted in arrests. Of the 41 people arrested, only six

were convicted, three of whom were foreign nationals — a conviction

rate of less than three percent. Others who were arrested were

acquitted, released on bail, or fined.

¶7. (SBU) The statistics are frustrating in the abstract, but even

more maddening when examining specific cases. For example, on

January 15, 2009 a 30-year-old Bulawayo woman was found in illegal

possession of 38 unmarked processed elephant tusks, 52 unregistered

elephant tusks, and a rhino horn. Conservationists and journalists

familiar with the case told us in disgust that she was fined US$400,

the illicit elephant tusks and rhino horns were returned to her, and

her husband — who is widely known to be involved in a poaching ring

— was never investigated and is still a licensed hunter. No one

bothered to investigate how this woman came to be in possession of

such large quantities of illegal ivory.

¶8. (SBU) A Bulawayo-based journalist shared details of other cases

with us. Notably, a group of five men in their twenties were found

in possession of 17 elephant tusks in February, which disappeared

shortly after being stored at the Hwange police station in

Matabeleland North. The men were fined a total of US$200, and no

one knows what happened to the tusks. Separately, a group of four

men were found in possession of eight tusks in October; they were

fined just US$10 each. Conservationists tell us that none of these

cases was ever thoroughly investigated in order to determine how the

poaching and smuggling rings worked.

¶9. (SBU) Despite considerable evidence of a growing poaching

problem, Environment Minister Frances Nhema has publicly proclaimed

that things are under control. At an event in June this year, he

downplayed criticism of Zimbabwe’s management of its rhinos: “There

are systems in place to ensure that poaching will be dealt with

Qare systems in place to ensure that poaching will be dealt with

accordingly. There is no room for allowing poaching in the country.

We are saying no to poaching.” Unfortunately, there is little law

enforcement evidence to support his claims.

——————————

Senior Government Involvement?

——————————

¶8. (SBU) There are persistent rumors that senior government

officials may be involved in poaching and smuggling. Certain names

repeatedly resurface in the rumors, including Minister of

Environment Frances Nhema, the Chief of Conservation at the Parks

HARARE 00000964 003 OF 003

and Wildlife Management Authority Vitalis Chadenga, Minister of

Mines Obert Mpofu, and senior security officials including the head

of the army, Constantine Chiwenga. Given the lax law enforcement

and the numerous cases in which the accused person was granted bail

or absconded, many believe bribes or pressure from senior government

officials is thwarting justice in these cases.

¶9. (SBU) Despite these persistent allegations, neither

conservationists nor journalists have been able to uncover

definitive links between specific senior officials and those who are

found in possession of illegal ivory or rhino horns. These same

conservationists and journalists, however, have been warned not to

investigate too deeply into the issue, adding more legitimacy to the

concerns that top government officials are involved.

——-

COMMENT

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¶10. (SBU) Rhino poaching continues at an alarming rate even while

the environmental and security-sector elements in government

(largely controlled by ZANU-PF) continue to proclaim that they are,

indeed, fighting the problem. As the March CITES meeting in Doha

draws closer, we expect that Minister Nhema and others will continue

to loudly defend the Zimbabwean record on conservation and blame

inadequate resources (caused by Western-imposed sanctions,

naturally) for any perceived shortcomings. Some in government, like

Minister of Tourism Walter Mzembi, have sought to remind fellow

ministers that environmental protection is key to bringing back

tourists and development. However, even while those discussions

continue, we expect we will continue to hear depressing reports from

the field of rhino poaching. END COMMENT.

RAY

(54 VIEWS)