ZimConservation

By Quentin Jones, 18 December 2008

A recent fatal incident at a sanctuary which uses captive elephants for tourist safari rides in Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) highlights some of the many concerns over this much criticised industry.

Representatives of Wild Horizons have confirmed that earlier this week Gavin Best, an experienced and well respected handler of captive elephants used in their tourist elephant-back safari rides, was killed in a horrific and tragic incident by one of the elephants in his care.  They have suspended their elephant tourism interactions whilst the incident is investigated.  Wild Horizons recently established the ‘Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust’ to support their commercial elephant-back tours and elephant ‘orphanage’.  They currently have a total of 16 captive elephants, 9 of which are used for rides with clients.  Continue Reading »

Published by the government of Zimbabwe on 14 December 2008

URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200812150272.html

Harare — THE Chiadzwa diamond field is a major national asset, yet the authorities have been reluctant to use their full powers to protect and exploit this wealth for the benefit of all.

To this end, we welcome the proposal by police for the relocation of the Chiadzwa families to curb abuse of the resource and boost investor confidence.

Legally there is no ambiguity, no doubts.

Mineral rights on all land in Zimbabwe belong to the State. Continue Reading »

URL: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16844&Itemid=108

LILONGWE, Dec 2 (IPS) – If the socio-economic development goals of the eight countries that share the Zambezi River basin are to be met, countries along the river should quickly implement plans towards managing water resources in an efficient, effective and sustainable manner. This was the agreement made during the Fourth Zambezi Basin-wide Stakeholders Forum which took place in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe from Nov. 26-27. 

The gathering, an annual event of stock-taking and strategising first held in 2005, focuses on managing the resources of the Zambezi basin. This year’s forum was aimed at turning the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Strategy and implementation plan of the Zambezi river basin resources into action.  Continue Reading »

By Silvio Waisbord

URL: http://www.communicationforsocialchange.org/mazi-articles.php?id=386

Before a certain former community organizer was swept by a landslide vote into the presidency of the United States, community participation had already captured the imagination of international development. Documents of aid agencies are chock-full of hosannas to community actions. Heads of state and philanthropic organizations frequently praise communities and participation. Shimmering images of participation, elderly men having animated conversations and purple-fingered youth with beautiful smiles decorate the hallways of international agencies and NGOs. Publicity materials, report covers, and Web sites graphics are endless streams of feel-good snapshots of “communities in action.” Continue Reading »

Edited by: Jiang Yuxia, China View

URL: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/30/content_10435814.htm

HARARE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) — Zimbabwe urgently needs international assistance to clear landmines to enable operationalization of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), a government official has said.

Permanent Secretary for Defense Trust Maphosa was quoted by New Ziana on Sunday saying that the country required assistance to clear a 70 kilometer stretch of minefield from the Sango Border Post to the Crooks Corner in the vast Gonarezhou National Park. Continue Reading »