Online Reporter
The Herald, 25 February 1986
ZAMBIAN authorities are considering implementing a package of measures to stop their nationals from cross- border poaching which has so far resulted in the death of nine armed poachers in clashes with Zimbabwean patrols.
Reacting to an editorial in The Herald on Friday calling for negotiations between the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments to act jointly to stop the poaching, the Zambian Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Frederick Chomba, said the matter was receiving attention from his government.
But he hinted that relations between the two countries had been soured by the deaths of the heavily armed poachers who were killed in shootouts with wildlife and police patrols in the Zambezi valley.
Zambia insists that Zimbabwean authorities should arrest the armed men and bring them to trial. But they have never suggested how they can be arrested while shooting at the patrols with heavy calibre weapons.
Mr Chomba told the Zambia Daily Mail on Sunday that it was too early to give details of the Zambian government’s plans to curb the cross-border poaching.
It has been suggested that some of the poachers in Zambia, like Mandrax dealers, are operating on behalf of well-placed officials. Some senior wildlife officials have been dismissed in Zambia for being involved in poaching and others are facing charges.
Diplomatic sources reported yesterday that Zambia has followed up its stinging public attack in parliament on Zimbabwe last week with an official complaint that excessive force was being used in dealing with the poachers.
A polite but very firm reply rejecting the Zambian charges has been sent by Zimbabwean authorities, but it was difficult to get details as both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cde Witness Mangwende, and the Secretary, Cde Elleck Mashingaidze, were out of the country on official business.
Lessons for today
- The editorial and reactions show that poaching cannot be solved by one country alone. Shared borders require shared strategies and coordinated action. The deaths of armed Zambian poachers created tension between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Security confrontations, even when justified, can damage international relations and must be handled diplomatically.
