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MDC demands probe into Hwange elephant killings
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T)
October 25, 2013

The MDC demands the immediate step-up of an independent commission that will fully investigate who is behind the massive killing of elephants at the Hwange national park.

The MDC’s demands follow the recent unlawful arrests and severe torture of villagers in Tsholotsho and surrounding villages by the police and game rangers and claims by Zanu-PF that it is not behind the killings. This is happening when the massacre of the elephants for their ivory continues to increase.

As a party, the MDC condemns these arrests as they are totally primitive, inhumane and degrading. We reiterate our position that the people involved in the purchasing of cyanide that is used to kill the elephants are not the villagers but a well connected and orchestrated international syndicate, which involves some senior politicians in conjunction with senior wild park officials.

The trade in cyanide is a complex business, which simple villagers in Matabeleland North cannot trade in without the involvement of well connected politicians and corrupt officials who are linked to Zanu-PF.

It is therefore premature and unreasonable for Saviour Kasukuwere, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate to dismiss the claims but he should set up an urgent commission that will investigate who is behind the massive poaching and environment damage taking place in Hwange.

The government must provide a lasting solution to this challenge.

Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that jobs are created in these areas so that people are uplifted enough to know the benefit of the animals to their community. The government must ensure that the people's dignity is restored to protect the villagers from the well resourced poaching syndicates who are paying them as little as US$500 to poison the water points.

The people must benefit from the natural resources in their areas so that they may protect them from external attack.

The MDC’s position is that the best security the country’s national parks are the people who live around them and that is why in our JUICE policy, the MDC advocates for cluster economic development to support local industries for national development and job creation.

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