Zimbabwe, which is home to the second-largest elephant population in the world after Botswana, believe they might find solace at AU Council of Ministers Meeting after the country’s proposals were rejected by members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the treaty that manages the multibillion-dollar wildlife trade.
The southern African country had threatened to operate outside of CITES if their concerns were not granted, arguing that selling off their ivory stockpiles will fund conservation efforts for the next 20 years.
The meeting, attended by more than 160 countries from November 14 to 25, reaffirmed international commitments to ban cross-border sales of almost all elephant ivory and rhino horn and strengthened protections for many animals popular in the exotic pet trade.
CITES member states were unconvinced by submissions made by southern African elephant range states, fearing that lifting restrictions on ivory trade would open the floodgates to poaching.
Environment Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu told a news conference following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that Zimbabwe, which is sitting on more than 136 tonnes of ivory and rhino horns, does not accept CITES verdict.
“Given the divisions that continue to widen among African regions at CITES, Cabinet agreed that the matter be taken up through engagements with fellow African nations and, where possible discussed at the AU Council of Ministers Meeting so that Africa comes up with a common position devoid of the influence of the former colonial masters and civil society organisations,” Ndlovu said.
Zimbabwe made four proposals at the 19th CITES Conference held in Panama City from 14 to 25 November 2022.
Zimbabwe along with Botswana proposed an amendment to the voting procedure to assign several votes per representative proportionate to the population size of the species under discussion or whose status is subject to voting.
Some countries supported the proposal which was however rejected following a vote.
The country proposed to remove the requirement that Zimbabwe’s elephants listed on Appendix II can only be traded to “acceptable” destinations. The proposal had 15 members in favour, 83 against and 17 abstained.
Zimbabwe also proposed establishment of a Rural Communities Committee, which received no consensus from members and an inter-sessional working group was set up to consider the issue and make recommendations to CITES.
Zimbabwe, in conjunction with Botswana, Namibia, Cambodia and Eswathini submitted a proposal to include consideration of livelihoods and food security which was also rejected.
Other member states made a total of six submissions to CITES which include transfer of the populations of African Elephants in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from Appendix II to I. That proposal was rejected.
Another submission targeted the Transfer of Common Hippopotamus from Appendix II to I. That submission was also rejected.
There was also a proposal to establish a fund accessible to Range States Upon Non-commercial Disposal of Ivory Stockpiles, which was rejected. The EU, which votes as a block, wielded significant veto power on a number of controversial proposals.
Previous proposals by Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia to resume international sales of ivory stockpiles have been rejected by member states at CITES, which prohibits unregulated commercial trade in endangered species around the world.
At the 18th global wildlife summit in 2019, the proposal by Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe was rejected by 101 votes, with 23 in support and 18 abstentions.
