Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

***The views expressed in the articles published on this website DO NOT necessarily express the views of the Commercial Farmers' Union.***

EU urged to renew Zim sanctions over Save Conservancy invasion

EU urged to renew Zim sanctions over Save Conservancy invasion

http://www.swradioafrica.com

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.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Survival in the wild

Survival in the wild  Sunday Mail 13/10/2019   Phineas Chauke IT is not called wildlife for nothing. Life in the wild is not only survival

Read More »

ZimParks, IFAW in conservation deal

ZimParks, IFAW in conservation deal Herald 3/10/2019   Elita Chikwati and Ellen Chasokela Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) on Monday signed a Memorandum

Read More »

New Posts:

From the archives

Posts from our archive you may find interesting