This
revelation
came
during
a
Parliamentary
session
on
Tuesday
when
MP
Joseph
Bonda
questioned
the
government’s
strategy
for
controlling
the
growing
elephant
population.
“With
the
elephant
population
now
at
100
000—double
the
recommended
ecological
balance—and
causing
starvation
and
deaths
among
the
animals
themselves,
does
the
government
have
plans
to
reduce
the
numbers
by
culling
and
distributing
the
meat
to
schools,
prisons,
and
drought-stricken
communities?”
MP
Bonda
asked.
He
further
emphasized
that
Zimbabwe
is
not
restricted
by
CITES
from
consuming
its
wildlife
resources.
In
response,
Dr
Nyoni
confirmed
that
discussions
are
underway
with
ZimParks
and
local
communities
to
explore
a
program
similar
to
one
in
Namibia,
where
elephant
meat
is
distributed
to
those
in
need.
“Zimbabwe
has
more
elephants
than
our
forests
can
sustain.
We
are
in
talks
with
ZimParks
and
communities
to
potentially
dry
and
package
the
meat,
ensuring
it
reaches
those
who
need
the
protein,”
Dr
Nyoni
said.
She
added
that
the
Ministry
is
working
within
legal
limits
to
ensure
that
any
culling
efforts
would
contribute
to
the
Presidential
feeding
schemes
to
provide
much-needed
nutrition.
“Just
yesterday,
I
wrote
to
ZimParks
to
expedite
this
process.
It’s
already
in
progress,”
she
noted.
Kariba
MP
Shine
Gwangwaba
raised
concerns
about
the
growing
human-wildlife
conflict,
particularly
involving
elephants
leaving
parks
in
search
of
food
and
water.
Dr
Nyoni
acknowledged
the
severity
of
the
issue.
“When
there’s
overpopulation,
wildlife
leaves
the
parks
to
search
for
resources
like
water
and
greenery,
leading
to
conflicts
with
humans.
Elephants
can
become
violent,
and
in
some
cases,
people
are
killed,”
she
explained.
To
mitigate
this,
Dr.
Nyoni
emphasized
the
need
for
physical
separation
between
humans
and
wildlife,
proposing
fencing
and
ensuring
water
availability
in
both
parks
and
nearby
communities.
“We
need
to
erect
appropriate
fences
and
ensure
that
water
is
accessible
in
the
parks
and
communities,
reducing
the
need
for
both
humans
and
animals
to
encroach
on
each
other’s
territories,”
she
said.
Shamva
South
MP
Joseph
Mapiki
suggested
Zimbabwe
consider
withdrawing
from
CITES,
the
international
convention
regulating
wildlife
trade,
to
make
independent
decisions
regarding
its
wildlife
resources.
Dr
Nyoni
expressed
frustration
with
CITES,
particularly
its
restrictions
on
selling
elephant
ivory.
“If
Zimbabwe
could,
we’d
sell
our
ivory
immediately,
but
CITES
is
an
international
convention,
and
we
have
to
negotiate.
We’re
working
on
strengthening
our
lobbying
efforts
to
gain
support
from
other
countries,”
she
said.
She
also
criticised
countries
that
oppose
Zimbabwe’s
stance
on
wildlife
management.
“It’s
painful
that
those
preventing
us
from
selling
ivory
are
countries
that
have
already
wiped
out
their
own
wildlife.
They
don’t
understand
the
human-wildlife
conflict
we
face,
yet
they
influence
CITES
decisions,”
she
added.
While
the
idea
of
leaving
CITES
is
being
considered,
Dr
Nyoni
warned
that
such
a
move
could
have
serious
consequences.
“Zimbabwe
wants
to
take
charge
of
its
own
wildlife,
but
we
are
part
of
the
global
community
and
must
weigh
the
costs
of
going
it
alone,”
she
concluded.