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

Two men have been arraigned before the courts for illegal possession of ivory valued at USD2 567.
26-year-old Peacewell Muranganwa of Domboshava and James Ngocho aged 37 of Guruve appeared before Guruve Magistrates Court for unlawful possession of unregistered and unmarked ivory.
Prosecutor Albert Charehwa told the court that on 4 January this year, Muranganwa approached an undercover officer from the International Anti-poaching Organisation in Harare with the intention of selling ivory which was in Guruve.  
The two travelled to Guruve the following day and along the way, they picked a Zimparks Wildlife Officer who was also undercover and the second accomplice, Ngocho.
The suspects led the officers into a tobacco barn where three pieces of ivory weighing a total of 15 kilogrammes were kept, leading to their arrest.
The ivory is valued at USD2 567 and the accused have been remanded in custody to the 19th of January.   
More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/two-nabbed-for-illegal-possession-of-ivory/">ZBC News</a>

Duo Arrested After Trying To Sell Ivory To An Undercover Police Officer

Former Victoria Falls mayor Sifiso Mpofu who was arrested and found in possession of ivory was awarded temporary freedom after he was released on bail.
Mpofu, 42, who was also found in possession of a loaded pistol tucked in his waistband was arrested alongside two of his accomplices Milton Sibindi, 47 and Phathiso Sibindi, 49.
The trio was granted $500 bail each, albeit accompanied by stringent conditions at the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court.
They are facing charges of violating Section 82(1) of the Parks and Wildlife General Regulations Statutory Instrument 362/1990, as read with section 128(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act, which criminalises unlawful possession of raw ivory.
The former mayor was found with eleven elephant tasks at his home during a raid.
<h4>Related:</h4>
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<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/03/08/former-vic-falls-mayor-arrested-for-poaching/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Former Vic Falls Mayor Arrested For Poaching</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2019/03/26/former-vic-falls-mayor-freed" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Former Victoria Falls Mayor Freed On Bail

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed that they intercepted a consignment of 200 kilogrammes of ivory worth over $1 million destined for Malaysia at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Monday with the help of State security agencies. There are rumours that the 200 kilogrammes belong to a top Zanu-PF politician.
Said Farawo:
<blockquote>We recovered 200kg of ivory valued at more than $500 000 on the official market. The net is closing in on the owners because we have identified the travel agency that was facilitating the transportation of the consignment.</blockquote>
Farawo told NewsDay that ZimParks will not hesitate to arrest anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/12/zimparks-intercepts-200kg-malaysia-bound-ivory/">NewsDay</a>

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