adminPatrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has blasted unscrupulous non-governmental organisations and conservation groups that he accused of abusing the country’s image in their fundraising programmes claiming to be assisting in wildlife conservation. “Organisations are fundraising in other countries in the name of wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe and as a country we are not benefiting from such acts,” said Minister Kasukuwere in an interview.
He said there were people or groups raising money purporting that the money is meant to fund wildlife conservations programmes yet they were not running such programmes.
Minister Kasukuwere said the conduct of such organisations was tantamount to fraud as the organisations did not seek government approval.
“They are doing it on their own and when they get the money, they spend it on their own. We don’t get even a single cent from such acts,” he said.
The Minister called upon people or groups willing to support wildlife conservation efforts in the country to contact organisations like the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority or registered World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
“We have proper channels, which were put in place by the government for wildlife conservation. We discouraged those taking such actions,” he said adding it was difficult to monitor unregistered organisations.
He said some organisations were running as wildlife institutions while others were charities for wildlife making it difficult to monitor their operations.
“The trend has not only affected Zimbabwe but other countries such as South Africa are complaining that millions of dollars in form of donations are not getting through to government institutions involved in wildlife conservation.
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