Well done, Minister Kasukuwere

Jeffrey Gogo  Climate Story
ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere received a fiery baptism in his new portfolio after coming face to face with Zimbabwe’s worst wildlife disaster in the country just a fortnight after assuming office.The minister had to make several trips to Hwange National Park following the cruel death of 100 elephants and unknown number of lions, hyenas and buffaloes from cyanide poisoning.

Wildlife poachers were at work, exhibiting the height of sophistication in their deplorable career path, which is a nightmare for any government, particularly those without the financial clout to curb poaching.

Elephants are killed for their ivory, a blue-chip product in Asian markets. However, it is the manner in which Minister Kasukuwere responded to the disaster that is reassuring for the future of the environment in Zimbabwe.

The term “environment” in this instance is loosely used to depict a wide range of issues directly or indirectly related to nature such as flora, fauna, water, biodiversity, etc, and expands to cover emerging concerns such as climate change.

When other ministers were still trying to come to terms with the mandates in their new ministries, Minister Kasukuwere was facing an acid test of jumbo-size proportions (pardon the pun).

He hit the ground running. His response was incredibly swift and efficient, organising multiple high-level visits to the disaster zone for on-the-ground assessments.

Actually, it later emerged that game poisoning of this nature have been going on undetected since 2009 or earlier. The effectiveness of Minister Kasukuwere’s actions may be difficult to measure in the short term, but some of the wildlife murderers were captured within days and incarcerated for very long periods.

The import from these repeated visits is that it sends out an unambiguous message to existing and would- be poachers that their days are numbered and should tread carefully.

The public attack by Minister Kasukuwere of Zimbabwe’s environmental watchdog, the Environmental Management Agency, for handling the Hwange disaster poorly was also a wake-up call to junior and senior ministry officers to be serious in the deployment of duty.

In an effort to beef up security and widen warden patrols in national game reserves, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, a semi-autonimous unit within the Ministry of Environment, immediately responded by re-engaging wardens previously employed by the department.

The response to the Hwange National Park disaster was all encompassing, integrating corresponding actions from the police, judiciary and other line ministries critical to co-operative efforts in handling national disasters.

While the popular belief is that the reassignment to the Environment Ministry from the powerful Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Ministry was a demotion for Minister Kasukuwere, he has a credible record of hard work, efficiency and effectiveness.

During the time he was Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister, he oversaw the effective implementation of the revolutionary community share schemes in many provinces across Zimbabwe, as well as the conclusion of numerous empowerment plans by foreign-owned companies operating here.

It was always going to be a challenge filling into the big shoes of his collected predecessor, Dr Francis Nhema, whose tenure in that office saw, among other achievements, the crafting of the National Environment Policy, joining of the Kyoto Protocol and the early and main work in the preparation of a National Climate Change Response Strategy.

Crossing the path from a political ministry dealing with the youth and empowerment to a more neutral eco-centred portfolio is not a simple task.

It calls for an individual of immense talents and flexibility. But leading a ministry such as that of the environment requires much more than these qualities or educational qualifications, necessary as they are. One must be passionate about nature and its protection.

Although Minister Kasukuwere’s environmental passion still remains in question, if he can keep up with the seriousness exhibited in these early days, we can hope that astuteness to grow into passion, which will make his job not just a job, but a work of inner conviction.

That kind of conviction is indispensable with absolute effective implantation of strategies that promote environmental protection, whose relentless destruction is one of the greatest dangers facing humankind today.

Hwange is, however, just one case in a country with multiple environmental problems. We expect the minister to deal decisively with the mountain of challenges including those listed below:

•  Pollution of the country’s water systems, particularly at Lake Chivero, Harare’s main water source. Control should expand to cover pollution in rivers from mining activities, especially in Marange and Mazowe.

•  Finalisation and implementation of the National Climate Change Response Strategy.

•  Effective control of veld fires and deforestation.

• Curbing poaching activities of elephants and the endangered rhino as well as effective protection of other endangered animal and plant species.

•  Observing international conventions and ensuring they are implemented at home.

•  Improved protection of Zimbabwe’s wetlands, which have been at the mercy of infrastructure developers.

• Mainstreaming environmental issues into national budgetary and development process.

•  Improving early warning systems and disaster preparedness.

•  Engendering a culture of proper environmental management practices from primary school level.

•  Making prudent sense of the Environmental Impact Assessments and ensure they are implemented to the letter

• Effecting deterrent punishments for environmental offenders.

• Capacity building and stronger awareness campaigns targeting policy makers on the environment and climate change.

• Addressing gender, children and disability imbalances in climate and weather related disaster responses.

God is faithful.

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