adminPatrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate Minister, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday condemned the killing of four elephants with cyanide poison by suspected Zambian poachers in Zambezi National Park recently.
In a statement, Cde Kasukuwere urged Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to work tirelessly in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book.
He said the government would not tolerate the continued decimation of the country’s wildlife by poachers using chemicals adding that all efforts would be directed at ensuring that the culprits are apprehended.
“Zimparks should deploy manpower in the affected area and to collaborate with other agencies such as Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Veterinary department, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.
The poachers poisoned natural salt licks in the Zambezi National Park and this resulted in the deaths of other species such as one cape turtle dove, one sand grouse and a vulture. Cde Kasukuwere warned poachers that the long arm of the law would catch up with them and that stiffer penalties should be passed in all cases involving wildlife crime countrywide.
“We appeal to communities that reside adjacent to wildlife to value the country’s wildlife heritage,” he said.
“We appeal to these communities not to harbour poachers and not to illegally keep hazardous substances without authority as they are not only dangerous to animals but also to human beings.”
Cde Kasukuwere urged the corporate sector to come on board and increase support for wildlife conservation efforts in the country at the same time instructing EMA and other relevant authorities to quickly rehabilitate the poisoned sites.
derick.khumalo