October
31 October - Villagers Resort To Wild Fruits As Food Shortages Worsen… DUBULA Dumezweni Sibanda (77) holds his head in his hands as he narrates the ordeal people in Lupane District and millions of other Zimbabweans are faced with as a result of hunger due to acute food shortages. Sibanda, who is taking care of six grandchildren, says people in his district are now surviving on wild fruits and roots from edible local plants and trees. Some families in the rural area go for as long as five days without eating anything solid and rely on the wild fruits for survival. From: Zimbabawe Independant
30 October - Share wildlife benefits with villagers… STUDIES have shown that conservation of wildlife and other natural resources in Africa is benefiting a few people but hurting many, and this is the reason why anger is intensifying over these resources in some areas. The problem is compounded by the perception that the lawmakers and beneficiaries are often the same people, at least in the eyes of communities. From: Chronicle (Zimbabwe)
29 October - Giraffes hanged at full moon… Twiza, a giraffe reared by hand on a ranch in the Chiredzi Lowvelt, was found hanged by a snare set by poachers 10 days ago, three days after her two and a half year old calf suffered the same fate. This is believed to be a deliberate attempt by settlers to drive the ranch owners from the area. From: The Zimbabwean
29 October - Ivory nets N$13 m… A ONE-OFF ivory auction that Namibia conducted yesterday morning generated more than N$13 million. Three Japanese and two Chinese buyers bid for the ivory at the auction, which only took about 15 minutes. A total amount of US$1 186 260 (N$13,2 million) was generated by the auction, Environment and Tourism Deputy Minister told journalists at a press conference after the auction. Jooste, flanked by the Deputy Director of Scientific Services, Louisa Mupetami, and the Secretary General of the Swiss-based United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), Willem Wijnstekers, said only seven of the nine tonnes of ivory Namibia was permitted to sell was sold. From: The Namibian
29 October - The Big Question: Is it right to sell ivory, or does it just encourage the poaching of elephants?… Why are we asking this now? Because the first officially sanctioned auction of raw ivory since 1999 kicked off in Namibia yesterday and made $1.2m (£770,000) from a commodity that it is normally illegal to sell.
28 October - The Economics of the Ivory Trade… As reported in the NY Times and elsewhere, an auction of 108 metric tons of ivory took place today in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The buyers were exclusively from China and Japan. Not surprisingly, this sale has raised the ire of animal welfare groups, such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). From: Zooillogix (Science Blogs)
28 October - Govt bars media from ivory sale… Government has banned all media from Namibia’s one-off ivory auction today. The Ministry of Environment never made an official announcement about the international auction, which is held under the auspices of the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). The UN body, which is based in Switzerland, made an announcement several weeks ago that Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa would have their ivory auctions on October 28 and 30 and November 3 and 6 respectively. From: The Namibian
28 October - Ivory sale earns $1.1m from China, Japan… Namibia sold more than seven tonnes of ivory for 1.1 million dollars on Tuesday, in the first legal auction of elephant tusks in nearly a decade — exclusively for Chinese and Japanese buyers. The sale kicked off two weeks of auctions across southern Africa that will put 108 tonnes of tusks on the block, in a one-off sale to the Asian powers. From: AFP Google
28 October - Controversial legal ivory sale raises $1.2M… The first officially sanctioned ivory auction in nearly a decade happened Tuesday in Namibia, with opinion split on whether the sale will help or hurt efforts to stop elephant poaching. The Namibian government sold almost eight tons of ivory for $1.2 million, said Willem Wijnstekers, the secretary-general of CITES, the international agreement covering the trade of endangered species. From: CNN
28 October - Controversial ivory sale to open… The first officially sanctioned sale of ivory in southern Africa for almost a decade opens on Tuesday. Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe will auction more than 100 tonnes of ivory from stockpiles to buyers from China and Japan. The money raised will go into elephant conservation projects. From: BBC
27 October - CITES chief in southern Africa to supervise ivory auctions… CITES chief Willem Wijnstekers is in southern Africa for two weeks to oversee auctions of some 108 tonnes of ivory, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora said Monday. Wijnstekers arrived Monday in the Namibian capital Windhoek, where the first auction of nine authorized tonnes of ivory will be held tomorrow, said the UN-backed group. From: Terradaily.com
27 October - Zimbabwe tourism as the tourism minister himself sees it… Francis Nhema is the tourism and environment minister of Zimbabwe. eTN recently caught up with him in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to discuss issues concerning his country’s questionably-beleaguered tourism industry. From: eTurboNews.com
26 October - Environment suffering due to hardships… The environment in Zimbabwe is suffering heavily because of the current economic hardships that people are facing. Due to continued power outages and lack of employment people are doing anything and everything to survive. Trees have been the biggest victim of the hardships as people in the high density areas are increasing in their numbers with regards to the cutting down of trees. Farms surrounding high density suburbs have become easy targets as they are sources of easy to acquire firewood. From: The Zimbabwe Gazette
25 October - SOAZ Warns Unlicenced Hunters, Tourists… The Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) this week said the recent political developments in the country afford a real hope for the renewed growth of tourism and sport hunting industries. SOAZ chairman, Jacob Mudenda, said although many tourism facilities required refurbishment, basic infrastructure is still in place to anchor the industry’s recovery. From: AllAfrica.com
25 October - SA to auction 51 tons of ivory for elephant research… South Africa is soon to be conducting its sale of approximately 51 tons of ivory as approved by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Standing Committee. The stockpile consists of ivory that was verified by the CITES Secretariat as being of legal origin and emanates from South African National Parks (SANParks), Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency, North West Parks and Tourism Board and KZN Wildlife. From: Travelwires.com
24 October - Elephants’ lives go under the hammer… Following the announcement that more than 108 tonnes of stockpiled elephant ivory in Southern Africa will be auctioned between 28th October and 6th November 2008, fear is mounting that the most vulnerable elephant populations across Africa and Asia will be unable to withstand the increased levels of poaching that are predicted to occur as a result of these sales. From: Easier.com
24 October - Energy firm probes coal-bed methane prospects in Botswana, Zimbabwe… Botswana may soon have its first coal-bed methane gas development project following the discovery of what has been described as an “unexpected occurrence” by Nyati Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zulu Energy Corporation, of the US. Zulu Energy is a Denver-based energy and exploration company focused on the discovery and development of coal-bed methane in Zimbabwe and Botswana. From: Engineering News Online
23 October - Twiza the Lowveld giraffe… A giraffe called Twiza (Shona word for Giraffe) was adopted by Theresa and Gary Warth when, some years ago, farm staff found Twiza’s mother dead and brought the baby calf to Theresa to care for. Theresa’s love of wild animals is legend in the Chiredzi Lowveld in Zimbabwe. From: SW Radio
22 October - Massive ivory auctions to lead to new killing of elephants, conservationists warn… Ivory auctions that will take place in Namibia on October 28, Botswana on October 31, Zimbabwe on November 3, and South Africa on November 6 2008 have raised the concerns of international conservationists from Born Free Foundations (BFF), a member of the Species Survival Network, who said that the ivory auction was approved by members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), despite an international outcry from scientists and conservationists. From: Sofia Echo
22 October – Dirty water keeps us poor… Although awareness about the environment has increased since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, integrating the required policies in water resource planning remains difficult. Water is a necessity for basic living, the production of energy, tourism, agriculture, forestry and conservation. Managing our water supply in an environmentally friendly way is linked with the alleviation of poverty and measures should be taken not to allow further degradation of this resource. From: The Zimbabwean
22 Ocotber - SADC tourism ‘far from its potential’… In a bid to boost tourism in southern Africa, investment opportunities in conservation hotspots across the region valued at R758m were put on offer to potential investors at the Boundless Southern African conference in Sandton yesterday. From: Business Day (SA)
21 October - Illegal Settlers Torch Timber Plantations… A wave of land invasions has struck the Eastern Highlands, leaving in its wake 10 000 hectares of torched plantations that will see heavy job losses and a shortage of timber products next year. The country’s thriving timber industry will suffer a major setback after illegal settlers set fire to vast tracks of timber plantations in the Eastern Highlands recently, destroying timber that could have earned the country billions in foreign currency. From: AllAfrica.com
21 October - Ivory collectors confront challenges over legality, authenticity… More than 100 tons of ivory will go up for auction in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe starting on Oct. 28 and continuing for two weeks thereafter. The ivory to be sold is reportedly from elephants that have died from natural causes or from herd-reduction techniques to prevent overpopulation. From: Daily Freeman
21 October - eBay bans ivory sales; should the world follow?… eBay says it is going to ban all sales of ivory by Jan. 1 in good news for elephants after a conservation group found more than 4,000 ivory listings on the online auction site. It’s a rare example of a company imposing tougher rules than permitted by international trade rules. Should the world follow suit? From: Reuters
21 October - Auction site eBay bans ivory sales to protect endangered elephants… The online auction site eBay has promised to ban ivory sales after investigators found thousands of items made from elephant tusks on sale. Conservationists welcomed the move, saying it was a vital step to protecting vulnerable populations of elephants in Asia and Africa. In a report published yesterday, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said it had found 4000 ivory trinkets for sale on the internet around the globe. They included a complete pair of elephant tusks sold for $21,000 on eBay. From: Mail Online (UK)
20 October - Extinction Risks High For Social Species Such As The African Wild Dog… In the world of “cut and thrust,” humans try to bank money to obtain financial security, and often form cooperatives to reduce risks and increase gains. Many humans also end up in poverty traps, where because of meager resources and an increasingly high cost of living they find themselves unable to raise their heads above the parapet and “never make it.” From: Science Daily
20 October - Falcon Safaris ventures into Zambia… One of the country’s leading tour and transfer operators — Falcon Safaris — has opened an office in neighbouring Zambia as it spreads its wings within Southern Africa. In an interview during the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair held in Bulawayo last week, Falcon Safaris operations manager, Mr Tendai Chikowore, said the company has completed formalities to operate its offices in Livingstone to complement its other office in South Africa. From: Chronicle
20 October - Zimbabwe tourism fair ends in a “not-so-little” way… Hundreds of Zimbabweans joined international travel buyers, sellers and journalists to commemorate the end of this year’s edition of the Sanganai World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair, Zimbabwe’s travel and tourism world exhibition. From: TravelVideo.tv
20 October - Tourism sector poised for brighter future (Commentary)… Zimbabwe’s tourism shop window ended in Bulawayo yesterday. The five-day tourism showcase attracted more than 700 local and foreign exhibitors. The international buyers came from countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and China as well as several African countries. Given the negative publicity Zimbabwe has been subjected to by the international media over the years, there was every reason to expect a very low turnout to this year’s fair, but much to the chagrin of our detractors, the turnout was just fantastic. From: Chronicle
19 October - Govt loses US$400m to underdeclaration of trophies… Government has lost about US$400 million since last year due to rampant under declaration of trophy prices and daily rates by some Safari Hunting Operators, an official has said. Speaking at Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism fair press conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo last Friday, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said the rampant illegal dealings in the hunting sector are denying the country the much-needed foreign currency. From: Sunday News
19 October - Chinese journalists hail fair… Chinese journalists have hailed the just ended Hlanganani Africa Tourism Fair as a success which yielded a lot of investment opportunities. At least 40 Chinese journalists and travel agency representatives were in attendance during the fair and they expressed satisfaction about the fair. Most of the journalists said they were impressed by the standard of tourism in Zimbabwe especially considering that the country had been managing without international funding for nearly 10 years. From: Sunday News
18 October - Zimbabwe, a rich, friendly destination… The Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair is being hosted by Zimbabwe, a rich and friendly tourism destination situated on a high plateau in Southern Africa and lying between the Zambezi and the Limpopo rivers. From: Chronicle
18 October - Irresponsible marketing and promotion costly to wildlife… It’s an all too common event in today’s tourism industry – a press release from a tourism product promoting what seems, on the face of it, to be a worthy conservation effort by a game or safari lodge is published more or less verbatim without any real research having been done. Or a reporter, with little or no experience, believes everything they are told by a charming tourism product marketer without checking facts or asking the right questions. The result? Certain establishments get untold positive publicity for their “wonderful” initiatives when their ethics, in fact, are highly questionable and, in some cases, downright criminal. From: Travelwires.com
16 October - Zimbabwe puts on the impossible… At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the city center of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, hundreds of young Zimbabweans chanted as they marched towards the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds to draw attention to the city’s current show on display – the Sanganai World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair, Zimbabwe’s travel and tourism world exhibition. From: TravelVideo.tv
16 October - Agricultural Experts Write Off Zimbabwe’s 2008/2009 Crop Season… The Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe has all but written off this year’s maize planting season, which should be well under way now but has been stymied by widespread shortages of key inputs, instead urging the government to mobilize food aid and imports. From: VOA News
16 October - Water Wars Hit Rural Zimbabwe… When water experts warned at the turn of the millennium that soon wars will be fought not over oil anymore but over water, little did Zimbabweans know that they would be some of the first people affected by this dire prediction. From: IPS News
14 October - Merafhe warns Babirwa against destruction of border fence… Babirwa have been urged to help fight against the destruction of the border fence between Botswana and Zimbabwe as it helps to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Addressing a kgotla meeting in Bobonong last week, the Vice President Lt Gen. Mompati Merafhe said although there is a huge presence of law enforcement officers along the border, there are reports of continued vandalism of the fence on both sides of the two countries. The Vice President noted that the destruction of the fence could lead to the re-occurrence of FMD in the district and exacerbate the suffering experienced by farmers who rely on the cattle industry as a source of livelihood. From: Botswana Press Agency
14 October - Christian Aid Releases Emergency Funds for Farming Crisis… Farmers in Zimbabwe’s Midlands province are being given a desperately needed helping hand by the UK’s Christian Aid organisation, which has released emergency funds to provide seeds and conservation farming tuition to farmers for a year. From: AllAfrica.com
14 October - Comment: Lucky’s name has been a misnomer… Something in an animal’s eyes can haunt you and draw you into its world, a world we seldom view the same way that they experience it. Loneliness, pain and understanding can sometimes all be combined inside one gaze. Such is the case with Lucky, an Asian elephant at the San Antonio Zoo. From: My SA Opinion
12 October - Zimbabwe’s open season on Big Five… Hopes that Zimbabwe’s once booming safari industry could be revived have been dashed by reports that Robert Mugabe’s cash-strapped government is allowing rich trophy-hunters to destroy the country’s wildlife. From: Times Online
10 October - Cites clears path for ivory auction… China and Japan have been cleared as approved buyers of a stockpile of 51.1 tonnes of local ivory, following an inspection tour by a South African delegation. This was announced by the government yesterday, and follows a decision in July by Cites (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) to approve the two Eastern countries as legitimate raw ivory buyers. From: Cape Argus
10 October - South Africa will sell ivory to Japan, China… The South African government will press ahead with plans to sell just over 51 tons of ivory to China and Japan under a special exemption to the international ban on the trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ruled last year that Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe would be able to make a one-off sale of 108 tons of government stocks. From: Associated Press
9 October - Turn Human Waste Into Energy… To many people, the term “biogas” is something they come across sometime in their secondary school education and is quickly forgotten once examinations are over. But there is immense energy potential for the country if biogas is harnessed and used for the development of the nation. From: AllAfrica.com
8 October - Wildlife In Danger… Wildlife in the vast Hwange National Park might starve if it does not rain within the next few days. Water levels at the park’s main animal drinking points have fallen drastically due to the current dry spell as well electricity power cuts which are affecting the pumping of water to watering points dotted around the giant national park. From: Radio VOP
8 October - Botswana on fire again… Never before, has Botswana been ravaged by unrelenting wild fires that have left protected areas such as the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR), Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve and Tsodilo Hills utterly desolate. With about 60 percent of the country’s protected and heritage sites wiped out, the tourism industry is bound to be in the doldrums. From: Mmegi Online
7 October – Imire poachers released on bail… Our elation over the arrest of the 4 poachers responsible for the deaths of 18 rhino, including the 3 killed at Imire Safari Park, was short-lived because they have been released on bail and have absconded. This is a great disappointment Zimbabwe’s so-called “legal system” which we thought, incorrectly as it turns out, was starting to show signs of working. It seems nothing has changed. From: The Zimbabwean
1 October - South Africa rhino numbers under threat as poaching spikes: report… South Africa’s rhinoceros population is under threat from poachers, who are killing the leathery quadripeds in growing numbers for their valuable horns, according to a report released Wednesday. The Witness daily in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal reported that 12 white rhinos had been killed in game reserves in the province so far this year. Their horns were harvested and the carcasses left to rot. From: The Earth Times
