ENVIRONMENTAL AND WILDLIFE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

Humans and the environment co-existed quite well until the increase in industrialization in the 1970s began to pose a threat to the environment as deforestation, pollution and massive hunting reached unprecedented levels.

HELEN NARE OPPORTUNITIES IN WILDLIFE AN ANIMAL LAW IN ZIMBABWE

Animals are living organisms, vertebrates or invertebrates, which are characterized by voluntary movement. They constitute domestic and wild animals (also known as wildlife). Animal advocates firmly assert that animals have rights and these...

LINCOLN MAJOGO EFFECTIVENESS OF ENV LAWS IN ZIMBABWE

It is undoubtedly clear that with the surge of industrialization particularly in developing giants such as China, Brazil, South Africa, the need to enact legislation preserving the environment and protecting environmental rights has rose with adverse number of environmental declarations being ratified...

PRECIOUS CHIPIRI WILDLIFE ESSAY

As much as we may not realise it as humans, we are losing more and more wildlife species at an alarming rate. Even the King of the jungle can testify as his roar cries foul to the uncertain future of his offspring. Wildlife trade is the commerce of products...

AUTHORITIES have come up with a toolkit that is aimed at expediting the trial of people accused of committing wildlife related crimes, it has been learnt. The kit, which was developed by Speak out for Animals (SOFA) in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, National Prosecuting Authority, police and Space for Giants, was launched at Matopos National Park on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch, secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Munesu Munodawafa said the legal guideline book will go a long way towards safeguarding Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

“This book is a positive contribution towards wildlife care. It (tool kit) comes when the Ministry is working hard on anti-poaching activities and anti-animal trafficking initiatives. Handling, detecting, investigating of animal crimes in Zimbabwe has to be taken seriously by all,” said Munodawafa.

Munodawafa said wildlife is the largest economic contributor to the tourism industry in the country and needs to be protected.

“We have to continue fighting and advocating for protection of wildlife. Let us all protect and conserve our animals and the wildlife environment,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, acting Prosecutor General, Nelson Mutsonziwa welcomed the kit saying it will go a long way in assisting investigators and prosecutors in carrying out their work. Mutsonziwa bemoaned the inconsistency of wild life laws in the region which he said were fuelling wildlife related crimes.

“We have an issue with lenient sentences on wildlife criminals by our neighbouring countries. Poachers come into Zimbabwe and escape into neighbouring countries. As Sadc, if we can have uniform wildlife laws, it will reduce wildlife crimes,”Mutsonziwa said.

SOFA founder, Ever Chinoda said following the launch of the guide book her organisation will from next week embark on legal awareness training for prosecutors and investigators who deal with wildlife related cases.

“The guide will be used by investigators and prosecutors in their days to day activities of fighting wild life crimes,” said Chinoda.

Zimbabwe has in recent years experienced a boom in poaching and trafficking of wildlife to Asian countries.


Source :
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/toolkit-to-expedite-trial-of-wildlife-crimes-luanched/

SADC has been urged to harmonise laws to fight wildlife crimes to successfully eradicate poaching in the region.

Speaking during the launch of the Zimbabwe’s Rapid Response Guide (RRG) toolkit on wildlife crimes at Matopo National Park on Tuesday, the acting deputy Prosecutor General, Mr Innocent Mutsonziwa, said while the country has stiffer penalties against poaching, this is not the case in some regional countries which promotes poaching even in Zimbabwe.

Speak Out for Animals, an organisation led by Mrs Ever Chinoda, brought together police, prosecutors and magistrates to come up with the toolkit.

“But sometimes we face a challenge where our neighbouring countries have lesser sentences. That is an area of debate as poachers to come into Zimbabwe and escape into those countries where sentences are very lenient. That becomes a breeding ground for poachers. A country with very lenient sentences becomes a breeding ground for poachers as they cross to where there are these animals and do their work and escape back to those countries (with lenient sentences),” he said.

“We can have SADC uniform sentences that will go a long way in dealing with the scourge of poaching. At the moment we still have some countries with very lenient sentences. Maybe it’s because they don’t have those animals but the uniform approach would help.”

Mr Mutsonziwa said while communities near national parks may view wildlife in terms of relish, they need to be educated on wildlife’s economic value to the nation.

He also said there must be professionalism among prosecutors as their duty is to ensure that justice prevails over just winning cases.

“I wish to say that prosecutors are ministers of justice and we are gate keepers to access to justice. What goes into court is determined by us, what the police give us is our stock in trade, the crime dockets. And we are responsible for making sure a good case is presented in court,” Mr Mutsonziwa said.

“What the courts expect from us is the truth nothing else but the truth. This is about prosecution, it’s not about winning the case but is about ensuring that justice is done in that court. That is our responsibility as ministers of justice and as gate keepers to justice.”


Source :
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/toolkit-to-expedite-trial-of-wildlife-crimes-luanched/

By Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter

ENVIRONMENTAL AND WILDLIFE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

Humans and the environment co-existed quite well until the increase in industrialization in the 1970s began to pose a threat to the environment as deforestation, pollution and massive hunting reached unprecedented levels.

HELEN NARE OPPORTUNITIES IN WILDLIFE AN ANIMAL LAW IN ZIMBABWE

Animals are living organisms, vertebrates or invertebrates, which are characterized by voluntary movement. They constitute domestic and wild animals (also known as wildlife). Animal advocates firmly assert that animals have rights and these...

LINCOLN MAJOGO EFFECTIVENESS OF ENV LAWS IN ZIMBABWE

It is undoubtedly clear that with the surge of industrialization particularly in developing giants such as China, Brazil, South Africa, the need to enact legislation preserving the environment and protecting environmental rights has rose with adverse number of environmental declarations being ratified...

PRECIOUS CHIPIRI WILDLIFE ESSAY

As much as we may not realise it as humans, we are losing more and more wildlife species at an alarming rate. Even the King of the jungle can testify as his roar cries foul to the uncertain future of his offspring. Wildlife trade is the commerce of products...