EU urged to renew Zim sanctions over Save Conservancy invasion
By Alex Bell
03 September 2012
The European Union (EU) is under pressure to consider renewing the targeted
measures it recently lifted off members of the ZANU PF regime, because of
the invasion of the Save Valley Conservancy.
The Conservancy has been under threat for many months by a group of ZANU PF
aligned officials and war vets, who have now been awarded 25 year land
leases and hunting permits in the area. This group has also invaded the
Conservancy and instilled itself as the new ‘leaders’.
The takeover has been harshly criticised by Conservancy officials, who have
warned that it is a serious threat to the wildlife, conservation and hunting
sectors in Zimbabwe. The Conservancy has also said it is a “criminal” move,
because the area is meant to be protected from ZANU PF’s land grab. Many
international investors in the conservancy are also meant to be protected by
trade agreements between their countries and Zimbabwe.
This includes the Conservancy’s Vice Chairman, Wilfried Pabst, who is a
German citizen. He has warned that the EU could take retributive action for
the invasion of Save.
This warning has been echoed by the EU ambassador in Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia,
who was quoted as saying last week that the recently lifted EU restrictive
measures could be re-imposed.
“You will recall that the EU suspended the effect of the restrictive
measures because of progress achieved by the GNU towards democratising
Zimbabwe and respecting bilateral investments, but anytime those measures
could be re-imposed if progress is reversed,” Dell’Ariccia told the
Standard.
The issue is also making international press headlines with Zimbabwe set to
co-host a UN tourism conference next year. Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman of the
Conservation Task Force, said the hosting of the conference was the same as
legitimising what is happening at Save Conservancy.
“To be recognised by the international community in this way is the same as
accepting what is going on. I don’t think it should be allowed,” Rodrigues
said.
The hosting of the conference in Victoria Falls has been in doubt amid
revelations that Zimbabwe was dishonest in its bid to secure the event.
There are now further doubts, after more than a million dollars was
reportedly looted from Victoria Falls hospital. The money had been invested
in the hospital ahead of the conference next year. But police are now
investigating a scam involving the fraudulent purchase of medical equipment.
The state media has labelled the growing media interest in the Save
Conservancy story a “Rhodie” plot to undermine black empowerment initiatives
in Zimbabwe. But as officials at the Save Conservancy have explained, the
issue has nothing to do with genuine empowerment.
The Conservancy has used its Facebook page to try and dispel some of the
myths being generated by the state media, chief among them that the
landowners have refused to indigenise.
“On the contrary the Save Valley Conservancy welcomes (and always has)
business investment irrespective of race, nationality, creed or gender. The
Conservancy has a constitution which provides for responsible land and
wildlife management. All members and investors are bound to work within the
boundaries of the constitution,” the Conservancy wrote on Facebook.
It also moved to dispel the reports that the Conservancy is made up of “the
last vestige of white ‘Rhodesians’ in Zimbabwe”.
“The Save Valley Conservancy is made up of International investors, local
investors, on the ground investors, government and some local communities…A
large part of the Save Valley Conservancy was converted to resettlement area
during the land reform process…As things stand right now the Save Valley
Conservancy can accurately say and prove that the conservancy is indigenised
to the extent of 32%,” the Conservancy said.