NEW: Harare records 45 cases of animal abuse

Sunday Mail Online

ABOUT 45 cases of animal abuse were recorded in Harare in the period spanning from January 2020 to date.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Animal Law Conference in the capital on Wednesday, acting Deputy Prosecutor-General of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mr Michael Reza said Zimbabweans had an obligation to look after wildlife for the benefit of future generations.

“Poachers and their ilk who abuse animals know that the law and all decent people are against them,” he said.

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) communications officer Mr Luckmore Safuli said the Judiciary has a critical role to play in combating wildlife crime.

“It is for this reason that we continue to engage governments and multilateral organisations in all the countries where we operate to develop effective laws and policies that protect wild animals, wild populations and their habitats,” said Mr Safuli.

“Under our Wildlife Crime Programme (WCP), we are collaborating with ZimParks (Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority) to increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies to detect, interdict, seize and transfer to investigatory agencies illegal wildlife products through raising awareness, training and provision of critical equipment …

“We are also supporting the wider justice system through the provision of training and sensitisation opportunities for prosecutors, magistrates and judges.

“Going forward, we commit to continuously working with our key partners in the country, including ZimParks, Speak Out for Animals (SOFA) and Wild Is Life (WIL), to build capacity for communities and relevant agencies to protect Zimbabwe’s endangered wildlife species for the benefit of current and future generations.”