Call for stiffer poaching penalties

LEGISLATORS and other responsible authorities should expedite review of the Parks and Wildlife Act to increase penalties for wildlife poaching, particularly of elephants, the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) has said.

This follows the recent poaching of six elephants in the Gwayi-Shangani Conservancy. The incident was reminiscent of the tragic poisoning by poachers of over 80 elephants in 2013 in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve.

In a statement, ZELA said while unlawful hunting of elephants or illicit removal of meat from elephants was accompanied by jail sentences, these regrettably, lacked the necessary deterrent impact.

“The poaching crisis emerges as a formidable threat to elephants and wildlife resources both in Zimbabwe and globally. Tragically, poaching is intricately linked to illicit wildlife trade, posing a severe danger to the survival of the iconic species,” ZELA said.

“Specifically, in cases of hunting offences of species not classified as specially protected, within various categorised protected areas, the penalties prescribed consist of either a fine, imprisonment not exceeding two years, or a combination of both a fine and imprisonment.

“This leniency raises concerns about the effectiveness of the existing legal framework in deterring such activities and underscores the need for a critical re-evaluation of the penalties associated with these offences,” said ZELA.

According to ZELA, if not promptly addressed, widespread poaching could result in a significant decline of elephant populations, pushing these iconic majestic creatures to the brink of extinction.

“The incident underscores the persistent activities of poaching within Zimbabwe, indicating an ongoing and pressing issue that demands immediate attention. This further underscores the urgent requirement for the country to promptly develop and implement comprehensive wildlife legal instruments that are robust enough to effectively combat and deter the poaching of wildlife resources,” said ZELA.

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