Mozambique: Poaching in Zinave National Park on the rise

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Mozambique: Poaching in Zinave National Park on the rise

8:31 CAT | 30 May 2018

DW / Governor of Inhambane, Daniel Chapo, speaking to the community and Zinave National Park rangers.

Drought and low yields during the agricultural season are forcing the local population into the Zinave National Park in Mabote district in search of food and income. The meat is for eating, but also for selling.

Only this month, park managers handed over to the police the more than 140 mostly home-made weapons they had seized, and park administrator António Abacar worries that the poachers will compromise the development of the region.

“On May 3, we handed over 147 guns seized here in Zinave National Park c, but we are also working on community awareness. Poachers often cannot pay fines and end up in jail,” Bacar says.

Zinave National Park was shut down for several years due to the 16-year civil war and only reopened in 2016. More than five million Euros has already been invested in the park to date in animal repopulation and other activities.

This year, BIOFUND, the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation, signed a partnership agreement with the park, which has already received 15 million meticais (about EUR 210,000) for their weapons sweep.

Image result for MoÃ§ambique: Aumenta a caÃ§a furtiva no Parque Nacional de Zinave

Traditions, enforcement and collaboration to end poaching

Roberto Gimo, a community leader who controls the entire territory of the park, suggests that a traditional ceremony be held to end the conflicts between the community and the park.

“I am Régulo [Chief] of Zinave, from Manica to Gaza. We cannot kill the animals, because this is our future. We should have a traditional ceremony, and everybody must attend.”

Inhambane governor Daniel Chapo encourages the managers of Zinave National Park to continue their operation.

“We know that they are doing an excellent job collecting weapons, mainly homemade, and this work must continue. This wealth belongs to all Mozambicans, to generate revenue for the state coffers,” he says.

Simão Machava, a spokesman for the provincial police commander of the Mozambican police in Inhambane, appeals to people who have weapons and asks the community for their cooperation.

“Whether they are homemade or conventional, these weapons must be handed in. When this is done voluntarily, the person is given special treatment. But anyone who possesses a firearm illegally must be reported to the nearest police unit,” he explains.

Source: Deutsche Welle