National

Hwange to host regional summit on ivory trade ban

Published

4 years ago

May 10, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe will this month hold a regional summit to discuss a common position on the global ban on ivory trade as the countries battle to fund conservation activities and rising poaching activities.

The summit to be held in Hwange between May 23 and 26 will be attended by environment and tourism ministers from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

Ministers from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Angola will attend the summit.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the region wanted to speak with one voice on the ivory trade ban by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which has been in place since 1998.

“We want to build consensus around African countries to speak with one voice when it comes to conservation and safeguarding of our animals and the communities,” Farawo told VicFallsLive.

“We also want to find out on what is it that we can do in terms of dealing with our stockpile because as Zimbabwe, we are sitting on more than half a billion dollars of ivory.

“Issues around the lifting of the CITES ban will be extensively discussed so that at least our people can benefit as we try to also fight wildlife related crimes around the southern Africa region.”

He said African countries have failed to lobby against the ivory trade ban because of lack of a platform where there can speak with one voice at CITES gatherings.

“If we build consensus as Africans, when we go on an international wildlife forum undivided and our voices can outweigh the decision,” Farawo said.

“We also want to take stock of our failures and successes over the years as neighbouring countries and to also come up with strategies and methods of how-to carry out conservation, to deal with climate change and poaching”

In 2019, Zimparks reported that more than 200 elephants and other wildlife species at the country’s game parks died due to drought.

The authority says its failure to dispose of its huge ivory stockpiles has left it unable to fund conservation activities and also to mitigate against the effects of climate change.

“Almost every animal is being affected by this ban,” Farawo said.

He said an increasing number of animals were straying from game reserves into nearby communities in search of food and water leading to cases of human-wildlife conflicts that resulted in the death of 71 people last year alone.

Stevenson Dhlamini, an economic analyst from the National University of Science and Technology, said the forthcoming summit could unlock opportunities for the country’s economy.

“Also, this move will go a long way in ensuring that the population growth of elephants is manageable,” Dhlamini said.

“The communities will also benefit from the influx of tourists into their communities, which results in economic empowerment.

“Again, the lifting of the ban will ensure that the blanket approach to environmental protection does not result in an unfair effect on the communities who do not have the capacity to sustain larger elephant populations which then strains the ecosystem.”

Zimbabwe has an estimated elephant population of 85 000, which is the second largest in Africa after second only to neighbouring Botswana with more than 130 000.

The southern African country has been exporting live elephants to countries such as China and authorities say this is one of the ways of controlling their population and also to raise money for conservation.

Between 2016 and this year Zimbabwe exported about 100 elephants, mainly to China and the United Arab Emirates and raised more than US$3 million.

There have also been suggestions that the country must start culling elephants.

The country last culled elephants in 1988 and continues to have stockpiles of ivory which it cannot sell because of restrictions.

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National

Government launches nationwide dog vaccination drive amid surge in rabies cases

Published

6 days ago

February 18, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Government has launched an urgent nationwide dog vaccination campaign following a surge in rabies cases across Zimbabwe.

In a statement posted over the weekend, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said the country is experiencing a significant rise in rabies infections, largely linked to domestic dogs and wild jackals.

Permanent Secretary Prof. Obert Jiri confirmed that 650,000 doses of rabies vaccine have been secured from Botswana — exceeding the country’s usual annual requirement — to contain the escalating threat.

The Ministry said the campaign will be rolled out in the coming weeks across all provinces, targeting hotspots near national parks and conservancies, as well as urban areas that have recorded increasing cases.

Prof. Jiri stressed the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention following dog bites, warning that rabies is fatal in humans once symptoms appear.

He appealed to dog owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated, saying collective action remains the primary defence against the deadly disease and is critical in preventing further fatalities.

National

Matabeleland North flags aid discrimination as provinces record widespread violations

Published

6 days ago

February 18, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Matabeleland North recorded cases of discrimination in government aid distribution and political interference in community leadership, as human rights violations were reported across all provinces in January, according to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).

In Matabeleland North, five violations were documented.

“On 9 January 2026, in Ward 29 (Emphafeni), farmers reported irregularities in agricultural input distribution, including selective allocation of groundnuts and maize seed to ruling party supporters, and sharing of 50kg fertiliser bags among three farmers, raising concerns over fairness and equal access to government assistance,” the report states.

In Binga South, a village secretary was removed from his position “for not aligning with ruling party positions, affecting his political rights and freedom of association.”

In Matabeleland South, four violations were recorded, mainly involving political intimidation. In Gwanda, individuals allegedly invaded Vubachikwe Mine claiming political backing, while in Bulilima West, villagers were reportedly threatened with losing land under the land reform programme if they did not support the “2030” agenda.

Bulawayo recorded two violations, including a case where “a visually impaired woman was denied bus transport from Bulawayo to South Africa despite having valid travel documents and fare, raising concerns of discrimination based on disability.” Residents in Old Magwegwe also reported prolonged sewage blockages exposing families to health risks.

Midlands province recorded 13 violations, including environmental concerns in Redcliff and Kwekwe over potential water contamination linked to gold processing chemicals. In Zhombe, political interference prevented enforcement of a court sentence in an assault case. In Silobela, police disrupted a Gukurahundi memorial service organised by a human rights group.

Masvingo recorded 19 violations, including the assault and arrest of a female vendor at SimRac Shopping Complex. The report says her goods were destroyed in what it describes as harassment of informal traders. Patients at Mashoko Hospital and Gawa Clinic also faced high user fees and limited medication.

Mashonaland West recorded 10 violations, including alleged irregularities in agricultural input distribution in Magunje and assault linked to ruling party supporters in Sanyati.

Mashonaland East documented six violations. In Murehwa North, “Provincial Chairperson and Minister Daniel Garwe threatened individuals in Ward 30, warning that those supporting the opposition CCC would be excluded from community programs and that anyone associating with CCC members could face violent reprisals.”

Mashonaland Central recorded four violations, including exclusion of community members, including persons with disabilities, from presidential agricultural inputs in Mt Darwin South, and learners being denied access to Grade 7 results over unpaid fees.

Harare recorded 16 violations, including assaults linked to political intolerance, disruption of civic gatherings, politicisation of borehole water access in Glenview, and the detention of a political activist over a planned protest.

Manicaland recorded the highest number of violations at 31. ZPP said incidents involved “state security agents, ruling party members, war veterans, and local authorities,” including intimidation of a human rights defender in Chimanimani and disruption of a community meeting in Nyanga South.

Overall, ZPP said the January data reflects “continued structural and institutional challenges in the protection, promotion, and fulfilment of human rights,” reinforcing the need for strengthened accountability and rights-based governance across the country.

National

Police arrest six in major drug busts across the country

Published

1 week ago

February 17, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY BANDILE TSHUMA

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested six suspects in separate incidents involving the unlawful possession and cultivation of dangerous drugs across the country.

In a press statement written on Monday, police said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse.

On Sunday , police in Plumtree intercepted a Toyota Quantum vehicle and arrested Msawenkosi Ndlovu (49) and Vengai Chawa (41). The two were found in possession of 5 124 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup (100ml) and 4 170 bottles of Astra Pain cough syrup (100ml). The illicit substances are valued at approximately US$80 000.

In a separate case on the same day, police in Wedza arrested Emanuel Busemani (28) at Plot 7 Investment Farm in Melfort, Goromonzi in connection with the unlawful cultivation of dagga.

Meanwhile, in Bubi, Lacken Tshuma (55) and Owner Muleya (32) were arrested on Monday at Inunwa Ranch for unlawful cultivation of dagga.

In another incident on Friday, Tinashe Mero Shoko (22) and Eliot Badza (33) were arrested at a house in Garikai, Dulibadzimu, Beitbridge after police recovered 100 kilogrammes of dagga.

Police reiterated that the fight against drug and illicit substance peddling and trafficking will continue for the safety and security of Zimbabweans.

The ZRP urged members of the public to provide information on drug lords, dealers and criminal syndicates. Reports can be made through the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703 631, via WhatsApp on 0712 800 197, or at any nearest police station.