Protect wildlife sanctuary
August 28, 2012 in Editorial
The granting of 25-year-leases to Zanu PF politicians to be part-owners of
Save Valley in the Lowveld spells disaster for the sanctuary that contains
an estimated 100 000 animals.
Over the past week the conservancy has run adverts warning the nation that
“a few greedy individuals who care only for what they can take for
themselves” were bent on destroying the animal sanctuary. The individuals
were named as Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke, Higher Education minister
Stan Mudenge, former Gutu South MP Shuvai Mahofa, Chiredzi North MP Ronald
Ndava and his Chiredzi South counterpart, Ailess Baloyi.
There is no denying that the involvement of the politicians, who were
granted leases by the department of National Parks as part of efforts to
reform the wildlife sector, will have a destabilising effect on the
conservancy and this may ultimately destroy the whole south-eastern wildlife
region.
The livelihoods of about 10 000 people, who stay in the area that is
unsuitable for farming, revolve around the conservancy which is now under
threat. One shudders to think what will become of them if the conservancy is
plundered. Before doling out 25-year leases, the department of National
Parks should have carefully considered the ramifications of such a move,
which is not only ill-timed but serves members of one political party.
Zimbabwe desperately needs to avoid sending negative signals to investors,
such as granting people with few resources and questionable interest in
wildlife management control over such a vast area.
The country is at the moment preparing to host the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation general assembly next year and such costly distractions
are damaging to the country’s reputation.
If Maluleke and company are keen on establishing their own conservancy, why
shouldn’t they occupy idle land in Zaka, Chiredzi, Bikita, Buhera and
Chipinge that borders Save and start their own project?
Setting their eyes on a successful project that was started by others in
1991 betrays their intention to reap where they did not sow. The department
should be stopped before it parcels out a shining animal sanctuary to Zanu
PF loyalists, who will certainly ruin it.