Hwange: Kasukuwere courts Arsenal star

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Saviour Kasukuwere has invited Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey to Zimbabwe to witness steps the government has put in place to curtail elephant poaching.

ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere has invited in-form English Barclays Premier League outfit Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey to Zimbabwe to witness steps the government has put in place to curtail elephant poaching.

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The country has hogged the international limelight after poachers killed more than 80 elephants by poisoning water holes with cyanide.

The Arsenal star took to microblogging site Twitter to express shock at the poisoning of elephants at the Hwange National Park by poachers.

“Just read about elephants being poisoned for their ivory in Zimbabwe; absolutely shocking,” the Ramsey posted.

Kasukuwere replied to Ramsey’s tweet, assuring the footballer that the matter was under control.

“Thank you for your concern. Matter under control. I’m inviting you to visit Zimbabwe,” Kasukuwere replied.

Kasukuwere has made three visits to the Hwange area, including the Hwange National Park, in the past three weeks since being appointed to the environment portfolio earlier this month.

Yesterday, Kasukuwere again visited Hwange accompanied by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Agriculture minister Joseph Made and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo to witness the disposal of the elephants carcasses.

Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa’s largest herds, with half of an estimated 80 000 elephants thought to be in Hwange.

Kasukuwere has declared war on poachers and has vowed to push for stiff penalties for convicted poachers.

On Wednesday last week, a Hwange court sentenced three poachers to at least 15 years in prison each for poisoning and killing 80 elephants.

A provincial magistrate sentenced Diyane Tshuma (25) to 16 years in prison while his co-accused Robert Maphosa (42) and Thabani Zondo (24) were each sentenced to 15 years.

Tshuma was also ordered to pay $600 000 to the Zimbabwe Wildlife and Parks Authority for killing the animals while Zondo will pay $200 000.