Farmers encroach on wildlife

Farmers resettled under Zimbabwe's controversial land reforms programme are one of the reasons animal poaching is on the rise, according to the country's wildlife management authority.

Vitalis Chadenga, director general of the Parks and Wildlife Authority, told parliament this week that land invaders who have resettled in wildlife areas where no farming is possible are now resorting to poaching animals such as elephants, rhinos, zebras and many others for survival.

Others are doing so together with poaching syndicates, some believed to be bankrolled by politicians, for rhino horns and elephant hides.

"We find people being given plots to engage in agriculture in wildlife areas and this is coming from the political side," Chadenga told the parliamentary portfolio committee on natural resources, environment and tourism. He added that the practice, which is being fuelled by Zanu-PF politicians, has increased poaching activities in the country's national parks.

"This is not a secret. We have people settled in Gonarezhou and people encroaching in Chegutu on one of our parks. There are people settled in Makuti encroaching on the parks estate with impunity. There is this emphasis on wildlife management, wildlife protection, and on the other hand people are flouting the rules at will."

Most of the country's national parks are located in arid areas which are not suitable for any farming activities.

According to the Parks and Wildlife Authority, Zimbabwe lost over 62 elephants and 30 rhinos to poaching activities last year.

The poaching activities have seen the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) banning the trade on ivory in Zimbabwe.

Chadenga said government officials should not resettle people in areas that are not suitable for agriculture.

"We say to government the best option for these areas is wildlife and if someone is going to settle in those areas they must engage in wildlife, not maize production."

According to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), 10 people were arrested for poaching and unlawful possession of elephant tusks and rhino horn that they were suspected of selling to buyers from China. The suspects include four former soldiers and four new farmers. The International Rhino Foundation says rhino horns are in demand on the world market with a kilo going for up to $40000.

ZCTF also says two young elephants were allegedly slaughtered by Zanu-PF supporters targeting wildlife conservancies in the Lowveld in June.

On the other hand, the government has also been complicit in the poaching activities.

The Ministry of Justice has proposed the culling of elephants to feed prisoners to try and curb the shortage of protein in their diet.