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ZCTF Report - November 2011
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
November 11, 2011

Mugabe gives elephants to China

Zimbabwe has donated 3 elephants to China. This was in appreciation for the fact that China helped President Mugabe's wife build an orphanage for 1000 children.

On the 19th May this year, President Mugabe reaffirmed the Presidential Decree, protecting the Presidential herd of elephants. We do not know where the 3 donated elephants came from but on the one hand, the president is promising to protect the elephants, and on the other, he is giving them away - subjecting them to a long traumatic journey which they may not even survive.

Injured hippo in Charara

Towards the end of October, Charara residents spotted an injured hippo on the flood plain. The hippo was clearly suffering and at least 2 people reported the matter to Kariba National Parks and asked them to come and put the animal out of its misery. Four days later, National Parks had failed to respond and the hippo died. If National Parks had only responded quickly, this poor animal could have been saved a lot of pain and anguish.

Two rhinos killed in Mazunga

Two rhinos were killed by poachers in the Mazunga Conservancy area of Beit Bridge. One of the poachers, Lloyd Ndou was shot by game ranchers and is now fighting for his life. His four accomplices have escaped with rhino horns worth $120 000.

Environmental damage

We have received complaints about a Chinese owned milling company in Shamva, next door to the GMB. It is alleged that local gold miners in Umfurudzi, Shamva and Bindura take their ore to the milling company to have the gold extracted. The milling company sells 3,5 kilograms of mercury to each miner and this mercury is then used in separating the gold from the ore. After separation, the balance of the ore is dumped in a huge pile which is now approximately 15 feet high, 30 feet wide and 60 feet long and the complainants are concerned that there doesn't seem to be any evidence that the mercury is removed from the waste ore prior to dumping. The mill runs 24 hours per day and mills 4 tons of ore per hour This means that approximately 96 tons are milled and dumped per day. One miner claims that he used 700 grams of mercury to process 28 tons of ore.

The biggest concern is that when the rains come, the mercury contaminated waste ore will be washed into the Mazoe River system, poisoning the water which is a hazard both for the aquatic life and the humans in the area. Mercury is poisonous and can cause various diseases including cancer. It is believed that no Environmental Impact Assessment has been done and we are appealing to the Environmental Management Authority to please investigate the situation urgently.

Thank you

We would like to sincerely thank the following people for assisting us with donations recently:

Carolyn Sihler
Liz Grainger
John and Helen Buckle
John Dawson
Casie Schadie
Melissa Souter
Phillip Miller
Carol Ratcliffe
Suzanne House
Keith Lewis

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