[Johnny Rodriguez of the Zim Conservation Task Force asked me if I could attend this meeting in Sandton on monday. Sadly, I am under too much pressure at work to be able to get away to attend this. I hope that this can get to a journalist who can attend this. It would be great if a journalist could ask some pertinent questions of our Govt Ministers here in S.Africa who are always pretending that Land Reform in Zimbabwe is a great thing.

As per Johnny’s info below, look at the absolute havoc that has been wrought on Zimbabwe’s wildlife by Mugabe’s maniacal schemes.

Please pass this on to any journalists you know. Johnny can be contacted at: [email protected]

Jan]

From: Johnny Rodrigues
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 9:32 PM
Subject: Fw: Meeting tomorrow

Hi Jan,
I’ve just had a phone call from our local MP. She has just discovered that a meeting is taking place tomorrow (Monday) in Sandton between the South African National Parks and all the stakeholders in the transfrontier game park.(See article below). She says that Francis Nhema is attending the meeting and she thinks it is very important for journalists, reporters or concerned organizations to go there and question him about the state of the wildlife in Zimbabwe.

I know this is short notice but I’ve only just found out about it a few minutes ago. Do you know of anyone who lives near Sandton who would be able to do this?

Here is a brief summary of the wildife situation in Zimbabwe and some of the concerns that should be queried with Francis Nhema.

Since the implementation of the land reform programme, it is estimated that Zimbabwe has lost between 90 and 100% of wildlife on private game farms, 60 to 80% in the larger conservancies and about 40% in National Park areas. These estimates are based on numerous reports and statistics received from all over the country over the past 4 years.

Poachers have stolen game fencing from game parks and game ranches to make wire snares so it is now very difficult to contain diseases like Foot and Mouth and tuberculosis because the animals are not confined. How can any guarantee be given that these diseases will not spread to South Africa and Mozambique when the transfrontier park opens?

Settlers have been given plots of land in the Gonarezhou game park, which is destined to form part of the transfrontier park. Officials have given assurances that the settlers will be moved out but to date, they are still there. The settlers lay wire snares in the game park to trap animals for meat. Who will be responsible for scouring the bush and removing snares before the transfrontier park opens?

Proper game counts have not been carried out for several years but despite this, unrealistic hunting quotas are still being issued.

National Parks are not able to carry out effective anti poaching patrols due to lack of funds and lack of fuel in the country. The roads in our National Parks are in a shocking condition and there is no money to maintain them.

There is no law and order in Zimbabwe and many of the rural folk are starving so who is going to ensure that the animals wandering into Zimbabwe from Kruger are not slaughtered for meat? Last year, the government instructed National Parks to slaughter wildlife in Hwange National Park for meat for the people. Is the same thing going to happen with the transfrontier park?

Thanks Jan
Johnny

Johannesburg
12 June 2005 02:07

The South African, Mozambican and Zimbabwean ministers responsible for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park held an encouraging meeting at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Friday, said Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Sunday.

At the meeting the ministers discussed the progress that had been made in developing the 35 000 sq km trans-boundary park, which will eventually form the core of a trans-frontier conservation area of over 100 000 sq km — creating Africa’s largest animal kingdom.

The ministers agreed that the much-anticipated opening of the new Giriyondo Border Post between the Kruger National Park on the South African side and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, will be among the most important regional conservation developments in recent times.

“In the light of this significance it was recommended that the border post should officially be opened by the heads of state, at a date to be determined by their availability, but possibly before the end of the year,” said Van Schalkwyk.

The new border post would, for the first time ever, ensure ease of tourist access within the park between South Africa and Mozambique.

Van Schalkwyk hosts nine of his Southern African counterparts at a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday, aimed at discussing a regional approach to unlock the tourism potential of Southern Africa’s transfrontier parks. – Sapa