UNWTO tourism indaba doomed

The fight to take over one of Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife sanctuaries, the Save Valley Conservancy, is mind-boggling to say the least given that it was formed 11 years after Independence in 1991 with the approval of the government and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Opportunities to invest were open to all and, in fact, the government took the opportunity through Arda to invest in the conservancy. Surprisingly, 21 years later and at a critical juncture for the country when expectations are high that Zimbabwe will successfully co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly, reports that thousands of wild animals, some endangered species, face annihilation in a wave of land takeovers by Zanu PF politicians can only serve to expose President Robert Mugabe’s top officials’ greediness.

Everybody thought that the UNWTO was an opportunity too big to lose for a country eager to mend its tattered image, but it looks like Zanu PF does not mind losing this kind of opportunity.
Whose interests are the invasions serving anyway? Is Environment minister Francis Nhema, who many thought was a relatively sensible official in a sea of corruption, aware of what his actions have done to this lovely country?

If the allocations were done in 2007, why did the beneficiaries wait until now before staking their claim? Why hold the country to ransom just to score cheap political points in their internal power struggle with Tourism minister Walter Mzembi? The two ministers should be curbed immediately, even though the damage has already been done.

This proves to all that Zanu PF does not have the people’s interests at heart. This in essence shows that Zanu PF is preparing for the worst by grabbing what they can and attempting to legitimise these acquisitions before an election. This is part and parcel of the widespread asset-stripping going on in Zimbabwe as elections loom.

There is no doubt that thousands of people’s livelihoods are threatened in the nature reserve and surrounding districts after hunting permits and land leases were granted to 25 Zanu PF provincial leaders under a so-called black empowerment programme.

Surely after 32 years of Independence, Mugabe should stop his party from using colour as a racial tool to collapse world-renowned conservation efforts for short-term gain. There is no doubt that through this move they will destroy not only each other, but generations to come.

It is understood that the conservancy has engaged with the Ministry of Environment and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority over a period of three years between 2006 and 2009 with plans to bring increased benefit to neighbouring communities as well as to increase indigenous shareholding in the conservancy.

Despite the current impasse and the graveness of the situation, we urge government and the conservancy to remain committed to seeking realistic and viable solutions to the situation.

By their actions, the conservancy has ceased to exist in its original form. There is extensive habitat destruction, large-scale destruction of the fence and rampant poaching of animals, especially the rhino, whose numbers are said to be fast dwindling.

This Nhema-supported Masvingo gang has destroyed the country’s image through their petty jealousy. Nhema should take on board Mzembi’s concerns given that he was until recently Tourism minister. Is he trying to get back at Mzembi for a job well done? Whatever the case, next year’s tourism indaba is definitely doomed.