Zimbabwe wildlife authority suspends DG as stored rhino horn goes missing
by MacDonald Dzirutwe
2016-06-28 12:57:21.0
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s wildlife authority has suspended its director general and is investigating the disappearance of 228kg of the agency’s stored rhino horn, it said on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe keeps in storage 70 tonnes of ivory from elephants and rhinos — worth at least $35m — and is seeking support from neighbouring countries to engage in international trade in ivory.
Namibia is also bidding to open international ivory trade, but Kenya is leading initiatives for a complete global ban.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZPWA) said in a statement that it had sent Edson Chidziya on leave with full pay to facilitate the investigation.
"The move has been taken to allow for an audit. This follows anomalies in the rhino horn stock piles amounting to 228kg," the ZPWA said. It gave no further details.
Chidziya declined to comment on his suspension.
Reuters
Rhino horn. Picture: AFP PHOTO / ROBERTO SCHMIDT
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s wildlife authority has suspended its director general and is investigating the disappearance of 228kg of the agency’s stored rhino horn, it said on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe keeps in storage 70 tonnes of ivory from elephants and rhinos — worth at least $35m — and is seeking support from neighbouring countries to engage in international trade in ivory.
Namibia is also bidding to open international ivory trade, but Kenya is leading initiatives for a complete global ban.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZPWA) said in a statement that it had sent Edson Chidziya on leave with full pay to facilitate the investigation.
"The move has been taken to allow for an audit. This follows anomalies in the rhino horn stock piles amounting to 228kg," the ZPWA said. It gave no further details.
Chidziya declined to comment on his suspension.
Reuters
