Southern Eye
By Southern Eye Reporter
25 September 2013
FORMER Education minister David Coltart has lashed out at Zanu PF for blaming the deaths of close to 81 elephants at Hwange National Parks on sanctions saying the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority is grossly underfunded.
Coltart said government was splashing huge amounts on luxury Mercedes-Benzes and Toyota Land Cruisers for ministers and their deputies instead of channelling the funds towards conservation of wildlife.
Coltart turned down an official Mercedes-Benz when he was appointed Education minister in 2009 — becoming the only member of Cabinet to decline an official luxury vehicle he was entitled to.
According to the state-media, Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi suggested sanctions imposed by the West contributed to the deaths of the elephants.
They said the parks department lacked resources to effectively conduct its work that included combatting poaching.
Kasukuwere confirmed to Southern Eye yesterday that sanctions were hampering operations of the parks authority.
“We need sanctions to be lifted because we cannot raise the $30-$40 million needed to procure the equipment required by rangers to monitor the park (Hwange),†Kasukuwere said.
“So in some way, sanctions really affect the parks’ operations,†he said. However, Coltart dismissed the claims as “ridiculousâ€.
“I see that Zanu PF now argues that sanctions are responsible for poaching in Hwange,†Coltart wrote on his blog. “At this rate, sanctions are going to be blamed for climate change.
“Give us a break — that is just ridiculous. National Parks have been starved of funds for decades. Instead of buying brand new Mercedes-Benzes and luxury Toyota Land Cruisers for ministers, that money should have been applied to buying Land Rovers for National Parks (and) our parks’ staff would be better able to combat poachers.
“Instead of turning a blind eye to rampant corruption in the diamond sector, had diamond receipts been applied to National Parks, then they would have had the wherewithal to run the parks properly,†Coltart wrote.
He said law enforcement agencies have had other agendas for over a decade leaving criminals to run wild.
Had the police been “focussed on catching crooks instead of supporting Zanu PF, (most) poachers would have been arrested by nowâ€.
“Had Zanu PF not allowed rampant lawlessness to prevail in their land reform programme, the hundreds of thousands of plains game in former commercial farming areas and conservancies would not have been poached out.â€
Officials say about $30 million is needed to launch an effective anti-poaching initiative.
Although authorities say they have managed to contain the deaths, fears remain that the looming rainy season could wash the cyanide from the rotting carcasses into the ground and emerging water holes triggering a deadly cycle.