SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY: ANOTHER AFRICAN TREASURE UNDER THREAT

September 3, 2012

One of Africa's most successful nature reserves, the Save (Sah-vey) Valley Conservancy, is being threatened by cronies from President Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party following the issuing of hunting permits and leases extending 25 years. Jan Raath, writing in today's The Times called it "The biggest land-grab since President Mugabe unleashed his land reform Programme 12 years ago..." The Zimbabwean Tourist board website describes the reserve thus:

"The entire Save Valley Conservancy measures about 3200 km² and was formed by combining 24 adjoining farms in this Zimbabwean valley. The Save Valley Conservancy is involved in the intensive protection of the rhinos, private game safaris, limited hunting concession and multi species research."

The transfer of administrative rights has already seen the sacking rangers entrusted with protecting the animals from poachers and relaxing of hunting restrictions. It would seem as though there is nothing to stop the area now from becoming one big playground. Conservationists and stakeholders are appalled at the decision and the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, suggested last week that the recently lifted EU restrictive measures could be re-imposed, if progress towards democratising Zimbabwe and respecting bilateral investments are once again jeopardised.

Unless governments across the world realise that they are not the owners of nature, or national art treasures or sites of archaeological importance, but simply the guardians thereof, they will continue to exploit and destroy what they have been entrusted to preserve and protect. History will not forgive them.