adminManagement Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) in operational doldrums.
In an interview this week HRDC chief executive officer Mr Joram Moyo said the joint operation between council and its partners was adopted recently following rampant poaching in most of the council’s game areas.
“Yes, teams comprising the ZRP and National Parks including our game scouts have already been deployed into the troublesome areas to contain the serious poaching that has badly affected our Campfire. The areas in question include Gatshe-Gatshe, Charara and Chiufe,” he said.
Mr Moyo added that the poachers were using sophisticated guns and sometimes wire snares to poach animals among them elephants, hippos and buffaloes.
“The most disturbing thing is that our Campfire which used to be the beacon of success is being ruined as the number of tourists frequenting these areas is dwindling,” he said.
“Most of the game that used to swarm these areas has also since been driven deeper into the Zambezi Valley leaving the council areas with nothing to offer to tourists.
“We also believe most of these poachers are very well linked to syndicates of buyers abroad. The way they kill elephants and their quick disappearance describes it all.”
Apart from poaching, Mr Moyo also said gold panning was rampant in some of the areas in question. He said this was also being tackled simultaneously to ensure order was restored.
Online Reporter