Opposition legislators say Zimbabwe should quit CITES so that it can benefit from its wildlife resources

We believe that we have been able to curb poaching of many animal species and have been able to save a number of bird species that were nearing extinction from utilizing CITES provisions.  So there are clear benefits from this and we believe that the best way forward for now, is to try and influence CITES to make considerate scientific decisions that also take due consideration of communities that bear the brunt of living adjacent to the wildlife species.  We have been open that the issue of us continuing to be members of CITES is up for debate.  We will continue to consider as we move on, whether or not as a country our continued membership is giving the optimum results that we are expecting from the body but for now, we are very optimistic that we will influence the decision making within CITES.  I thank you.

HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA:  Supplementary question Mr. President Sir!

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Yes, we have run out of time but anyway proceed.

HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA:  Mr. President …

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  I hope you will be very brief.

HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA:  Very brief Mr. President but I think it is very disturbing.  The world over is saying their nation first, you can go to the United States of America and it is the United States of America first.  Why should Zimbabwe be affected by policies that benefit other countries because we are not poachers?  We have managed to manage our resources and should benefit from it.  The Hon. Minister said that we want to save for the world.  I think we should have Zimbabwe first.  I thank you.

HON. N. M. NDLOVU:  Thank you Mr. President.  I thank the Hon. Senator for the supplementary question.  I also want to appreciate the passion around this which I duly share with the Hon. Senator.

Maybe for completion, when I mentioned that CITES has benefited from us; I just wanted it to be clear that we are not just there to benefit, as you are correctly acknowledging that we have done so well in conserving our elephants. These are lessons that they have drawn from us and that is not the reason we are there, so to speak. 

I just want to go back to what I highlighted on whether it is beneficiary for us to walk out from CITES. The reason of us walking out primarily is that CITES restricts us from trading and how we are restricted from trading is that they will control the market.  You are not able to sell to that market but also they will put restrictions on your ability to sell.  Zimbabwe walking out will just stand out there.  Our primary markets are China and Japan, they will remain in CITES and will not be able to purchase as they are bound by CITES.  So when you analyse the benefits of being there and being outside, it is much better to go in there, influence decision so that the market is opened for those countries that have demonstrated that they have conserved their wildlife so well and are able to maintain it and have been able to contain poaching.  This is how we have so far been able to maintain our membership at CITES.  I hope it tries to clarify Mr. President Sir, thank you.

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