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Zimparks defends elephant culling: ‘Conservationists are greedy and misinformed’

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

In a recent interview with VicFallsLive reporter Nokuthaba Dlamini, Tinashe Farawo of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) addressed the controversy surrounding elephant culling in Zimbabwe.

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Farawo responded to criticism from conservationists on social media, who have condemned Zimparks for their handling of problem elephants in communities.

The debate sparked after an incident in Victoria Falls two months ago, where an elephant was killed in the suburbs, and others were killed in Hwange town.

Farawo defended Zimparks’ actions, stating that communities are under distress due to elephants causing unwarranted curfews, disrupting daily life, and even resulting in fatalities.

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He criticized conservationists for slamming the idea of shooting to kill problem elephants, accusing them of being “greedy lots” who are more interested in fundraising than providing solutions.

Below are excerpts from the interview, where Farawo shares his perspective on the matter:

We don’t deal with activists, this is activism they are not conservationists, they are just activists

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What we do, let me give you an example we have a hunting quota of 500 elephants every year, and this hunting quota has been in place since 1991, we have never exhausted that quota

We have a management quota that is in place there are many things that we can do. Do they know the definition of culling for example?

When we react to distress calls when communities tell us that there are elephants and lions there and we respond and when we respond we do an assessment and when human life is under threat we are left with no option, but to eliminate

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In respect of the two incidences one which happened here in Victoria Falls and the other incident which happened in Hwange, you can actually see that the elephants were in the streets in communities and when we go there, we do an assessment.

Communities in Hwange last month were put on an unwanted curfew by the elephants. For two weeks, no one was going to school, no one was leaving his or her homestead

We receive those distress calls and we go there to restore order and the options that we have is either we scare the animals away, but if human life is under threat, we are left with no option.

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We are no apologetic, that’s our job, our laws provide for that.

But because they don’t that and they don’t know the definition of culling and because they are activists and if they were conservationists they would understand what l am saying.

They are just raising their own money in the name our elephants, for their benefits.

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They are just greedy and they have never given us options or alternatives to say what is it can we can do with the crisis.

We have a lot of biodiversity projects around our parks, do they say anything about it.

Communities lose their lives l, we have never heard them, even a condolence message.

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National

Four men on the run after allegedly killing man over relative’s death

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

Four people from Silobela are being sought by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their alleged involvement in a gruesome murder that took place on Sunday.

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The police are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Thandelwenkosi Moyo, who was allegedly killed by the four suspects after being accused of killing their relative.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at Munklenuck Village, Inyathi.

The accused have been identified as Nyoka, Zizimuzi, Mboya, and Aweli.

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The police report states that the four suspects took turns to attack the victim with booted feet and a sharp object, resulting in his death at the scene.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward and report to the nearest police station.

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Parliament grills minister on Zimbabwe’s climate and food security policies

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week, the Parliament saw a robust exchange as Members of Parliament (MPs) probed the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement, Anxious Masuka, about the government’s plans to enhance food security amidst climate challenges. The session highlighted both the progress and the hurdles faced in rehabilitating irrigation schemes across the country.

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Addressing Food Security

Thusani Ndou initiated the discussion by questioning the government’s food security policies in light of reported irrigation schemes operating at a mere 20% capacity. He emphasized the critical food shortages resulting from this inefficiency, despite the season’s good rainfall. In his response, Minister Masuka underscored that the government considers food security a cornerstone of its agenda and described ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture.

“We regard food security everywhere and every day as one of the philosophies of the Second Republic,” Masuka stated, explaining the government’s commitment to “climate-proof” agriculture. This involves implementing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model, which promotes sustainable agricultural practices tailored to the environment, and accelerating irrigation development.

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Masuka announced ambitious targets to complete the development of 26 000 hectares of smallholder irrigation across 460 schemes by 2030, with 19 000 hectares already achieved. However, he acknowledged that regional disparities mean that some areas, particularly Bulilima and Binga, continue to face significant food shortages, despite the government’s commitment to addressing these needs.

Irrigation Scheme Oversight

Further inquiries from MPs, including Phathisiwe Machangu, Lupane east, raised concerns about idle irrigation schemes and the government’s policies for monitoring their functionality. The Minister acknowledged the historical context of these schemes, noting that many were established during colonial times as “uneconomic, unviable units.” He highlighted a new initiative aimed at transforming these uneconomical schemes into viable business units by restructuring governance and management practices.

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“We are now using the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model to pool smaller plots into larger, economically viable units, thereby improving their sustainability and profitability,” he explained. The Ministry has successfully onboarded 341 out of the 460 irrigation schemes onto this new model.

Budget and Development Challenges

Others further pressed the Minister on the apparent lack of follow-through on government budgets allocated for these irrigation schemes. Masuka expressed disappointment over budget allocations, revealing that as of June, only 37% of the requested resources had been disbursed.

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He urged Parliament to advocate for the importance of developing irrigation infrastructure, especially in light of changing climate conditions. “It is saddening that we have resources lying idle while communities suffer as candidates for social welfare,” he lamented.

Regarding the quality of irrigation contractors and value for money, Masuka acknowledged ongoing assessments by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. He assured the MPs that procurement regulations were in place to ensure contractors deliver quality work but left the door open for evidence of failures to be addressed.

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Jamaica reigns supreme as South Africa and Botswana athletes fall short in dramatic 100m showdown

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BY TIMES LIVE

Jamaica returned to the top of the 100m podium at the world championships in Tokyo on Sunday, but South Africa — even with two dogs in the fight — missed out yet again.

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Gift Leotlela finished fifth in 9.95 sec and veteran Akani Simbine ended seventh in 10.04 while Oblique Seville clocked a 9.77 personal best to become the first Jamaican to win the global 100m crown in 10 years after Usain Bolt at Beijing 2015.

His countryman, Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, was second in 9.82 and brash American Noah Lyles, the Olympic and defending champion, third in 9.89.

The final featured two Jamaicans, two Americans and two South Africans, but it was the two traditional powerhouses that dominated the podium.

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Looked at another way, the final had four men from the Americas against four Africans, and with Kenny Bednarek ending fourth, it was the men from the Americas who took the first four spots.

Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, the Olympic 200m champion and the 100m silver medallist from Budapest 2023, was disqualified for a false start. Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi was sixth in 10.00.

Yet, had Leotlela repeated the 9.87 he ran in the heats on Saturday he would have taken third. Still, the 27-year-old, who has struggled with injuries for much of the past four years, can be happy with three consecutive sub-10 runs at the showpiece.

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But Simbine, who took the 60m bronze at the world indoor championships in March, looked as if he had mistimed his season.

He went on the indoor circuit early in the year in a bid to improve his start, which meant sacrificing an important training block that he subsequently switched to June and July.

The 31-year-old was on fire before the break, but since returning he never looked sharp.

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He’s competed in seven major 100m finals — three Olympics and four world championships — and never reached a podium. Having previously finished fourth or fifth, this was also his worst finish in a final.

In the semifinals earlier, just like it happened at the Olympics on the same track four years ago, Simbine had to wait to find out if he had won a spot in the final after finishing third in the first heat in 9.96.

Only the first two of the three heats advanced automatically, with the two fastest losers going through.

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Leotlela ended third in the final semifinal in 9.97.

But still, two South Africans in the final should augur well for the 4x100m relay next weekend.

The only other South African in a medal race on the day, Adriaan Wildschutt, didn’t have the kick at the tail end of a slow 10,000m, crossing the line in 28 min 59.47 sec to finish 10th to match his position at last year’s Paris Olympics.

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Frenchman Jimmy Gressier won a sprint finish in 28:55.77, ahead of Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha (28:55.83) and Andreas Almgren of Sweden (29:56.02).

Earlier, Zakithi Nene, the fastest man over 400m in the world this year with his 43.76 from May, won his heat in 44.34 to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal.

But American Jacory Patterson, No 2 on the list, threw down the gauntlet by jogging over the final metres of his heat to clock the fastest time of the heats, 43.90.

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Khaleb McRae, the second of three American qualifiers, was second quickest in the heats in 44.25.

Then came Nene, and behind him lurk other dangermen, like Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori (44.36) and Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica (44.38), who limped off the track.

Countryman Lythe Pillay delivered a solid performance to advance to the semifinals with a 44.73 season’s best, finishing second in his heat behind Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, fourth at last year’s Olympics.

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But with the US getting four men into the next round and Botswana and Britain three, the South African 4x400m team will have their work cut out next weekend to make the relay podium.

Miranda Coetzee and Shirley Nekhubui failed to advance beyond the women’s 400m heats and Brian Raats was unable to clear the bar in the qualifying round of the men’s high jump.

SOURCE| TIMES LIVE

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