ZIMBABWE has 26 tonnes of ivory worth more than US$4 million but the nine year embargo imposed by the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) on trade in ivory is denying the country an opportunity to benefit from its own natural resources, Sunday Business can reveal.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s (ZPWMA) pass out parade and graduation ceremony held in Hwange last week, the authority’s public relations manager, Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo, said the ban impacted negatively on the authority’s ability to contribute towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product. 
She said ZPWMA had mapped out a strategy to thwart a proposal by Kenya to extend the moratorium on the country’s trade in ivory to 20 years ahead of the CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar.
“We have come up with strategies to stop the extension of the period and for the first time we are speaking with one voice both as authorities and operators.
“A Parliamentary Portfolio Committee is also working to stop the bid by Kenya to deprive the country of a chance to generate income because when it passes it will affect the whole country,” said Ms Washaya-Moyo. The proposal by Kenya is against the spirit of the last Conference of Parties meeting at The Hague where it was agreed that African nations including Kenya must create a management strategy and a fund to administer elephants on the continent.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the authority is surviving on auctions, hunts and accommodation provision and there had been an improvement in tourist arrivals since the formation of the Inclusive Government.
ZPWMA had a one off-sale in December last year and managed to realise US$450 000 in the process with each kilogramme of ivory costing US$150.
Zimbabwe joined CITES in 1982.
In his maiden speech on behalf of NPWMA director general, Dr Morris Mutsambiwa, the head of management services, Mr Jefferys Matipano, said there is a need for the authority to invest in manpower development so as to protect natural resources.
“Some of our natural resources like elephants, rhino and zebra to mention only but a few are under threat from illegal harvesters. There is a need to step up our anti poaching and conservation strategies.
“Admittedly natural resources conservation is slowly being narrowed to a global village therefore calling for integration and sharing of skills both nationally and regionally,” Dr Mutsambiwa said.
He said the organisation's management is making efforts to improve its employees’ working environment.
Fifty-six trainees graduated as rangers.