THE overwhelming response by corporates to the Hwange National Park ecological disaster where at least 91 elephants have died of cyanide poisoning must be applauded.
On Monday Mbada Diamonds donated 10 Landrovers worth $561 000 to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) to assist rangers in anti-poaching activities.
Econet Wireless also donated one truck and pledged to install electronic tracking devices on trucks donated by Mbada Diamonds.
Zimoco donated one double-cab vehicle to boost the authority’s fleet as lack of mobility has been partly blamed for the increase in poaching activities at the country’s largest game reserve.
Zimparks says lack of funding has made it difficult for rangers to police wildlife sanctuaries throughout the country and this has given rise to poaching activities.
The senseless mass killing of elephants for their ivory has at least elevated the crime to a priority area that needs to be put under control.
Rampaging poachers are not only a threat to the country’s biodiversity but their activities also have ripple effects on the country’s economy, as wanton killing of game would in the long run affect the tourism industry.
It has since emerged that poachers who use deadly cyanide to kill elephants have been doing this for over five years, but the Zimparks authorities have not been able to detect their activities.
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The initial reaction to the scandal got us worried as the authorities seemed to be running for the easiest excuses to explain away the tragedy.
Some government officials and Zimparks authorities blamed targeted sanctions imposed on some Zanu PF officials for the disaster and this sounded like a very lame excuse.
However, Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere appears to have seen the light and is mobilising corporates to support the fight against poachers as a direct response to the Hwange disaster.
Kasukuwere also unveiled a team of a board of trustees to oversee fundraising activities for Zimparks and this is something that should be encouraged.
There are many Zimbabweans willing to contribute to rebuilding this country and the government should also seek to reach out to them whenever such disasters occur.
