Zimbabwe has over 130 tonnes of elephant tusks stockpiled, from which it cannot derive any economic value due to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banning ivory trade in 1989.
This stockpile, valued at over US$600 million, remains idle in Zimparks’ vault in Harare, and the quantities continue to grow.
Fulton Mangwanya, the director general of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), made these remarks during a recent signing ceremony with Defend, formerly known as National Park Rescue (NPR), in Chizarira National Park in Binga. Said Mangwanya (via <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/zimbabwe-feels-ivory-trade-ban-impact-as-stockpiles-surge-to-130-tonnes/">ZimLive</a>):
<blockquote>
Because of natural mortality, because of maybe management of elephants, they (stockpiles) continue to rise.
The situation that I have right now is that the vault on its own is now full of ivory. I don’t know what to do with it.
Right now, we are doing it internally. We want to kill, utilise the meat; we are not exploiting, they still make noise…you send them (elephants) to China, they make noise. You say we want to sell the hides, they (conservationists) make noise.
You want to sell the ivory, they make noise. So, by the end of the day as a sovereign state we have to do what is good for our nation.
We will not watch and see our people dying of hunger, especially those surrounding the parks where we have got these elephants.
So indeed yes, we are going to kill 200 or even more if they don’t actually service the need.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is home to over 80,000 elephants, with Hwange National Park home to between 45,000 and 55,000 elephants, exceeding its carrying capacity of 15,000. The country last conducted an elephant culling in 1988.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe has a lot of ivory from elephants, but they can't sell it because it's banned. The ivory is worth $600 million and keeps growing. The director of Zimparks doesn't know what to do with it. They may have to kill some of the elephants to control the population to reduce starvation for locals. Zimbabwe has too many elephants in the parks, and they last killed some in 1988. They are facing a tough decision on what to do with the ivory and the elephants.

Zimbabwe Faces Dilemma With 130 Tonnes Of Ivory Worth $600 Million

Two Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members were on Thursday sentenced to nine years in jail for illegal possession of ivory, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200022156/two-soldiers-jailed-9-years">NewsDay</a>.
Wilfred Minesi (33) and Virimayi Nyandoro (36) who were stationed at One Commando Regiment in Harare were hauled before Magistrate Ruth Moyo.
Their alleged accomplices Maxwell Nduna and Micheal Zhaunkinyu were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Allegations were that on 02 April 2021, detectives from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit Harare received information that two men were looking for potential buyers of elephant tusks.
Detectives contacted Nduna who led them to the suspects. Upon meeting with the detectives, Minesi and Nyandoro said they had elephant tusks that they intended to sell for US$40 per kilogramme.
The two soldiers said they had hidden the ivory in Mukuvisi River near Brooks Drive, Hillside, Harare.
They then led detectives to Mukuvisi River where the ivory was retrieved.
Upon seeing the ivory, the detectives identified themselves as CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit members.
Minesi and Nyandoro failed to produce any licence or permit that authorised them to possess the ivory, leading to their arrest.
Mandy Chigumira prosecuted.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Two Soldiers Jailed 9 Years Each For Illegal Possession Of Ivory

A Victoria Falls man sustained life-threatening body and facial injuries after he was assaulted by police and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials, his lawyers recently told a magistrate.
Leonard Ndebele (33), who is being represented by Nomusa Khumalo of Mvhiringi and Associates Legal Practitioners, was arrested after being found with two elephant tusks.
Victoria Falls resident magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa ordered that Ndebele should be referred to Victoria Falls Hospital before his plea after physically observing his facial injuries when he recently appeared in court.
Prosecutors told the court that on 21 February 2022, at around 6 pm and along the Kazungula road near Victoria Falls Primary School, Ndebele was found in possession of two elephant tusks.
It was further alleged that Ndebele intended to sell the ivory to a man identified in court papers at Stanley Mhaka.
In her ruling, the magistrate ordered that Ndebele should be first taken to the hospital and a medical report be sent back to court before his bail application could be heard.
Ndebele will appear in court again on 9 March for further remand.
<h4>More: <a href="https://cite.org.zw/court-orders-medical-exam-for-suspect-assaulted-by-cops/">CITE</a></h4>

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