Africa vs Africa: Inside the latest challenge to ivory trade
Tuesday, October 04, 2022 | 2180 Views |
In the wild: Tourists on mekoro spot an elephant in the Delta. Hunting tourism and other activities PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
The often-repeated allegations of expensive flights, fancy dinners, gifts and bribes paid by influential NGOs to African delegates in exchange for support against ivory trade proposals are resurfacing ahead of the key Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species summit. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports
News that four West African countries, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Senegal want the upcoming meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to essentially bar Botswana and her neighbours from exporting elephant products, has been met with bewilderment amongst Batswana.
An election is held in a member state, international observers raise concerns, but the Southern African Development Community (SADC) often remains silent or offers only gentle, diplomatic praise. This has led to a widespread belief that the regional body prioritises solidarity amongst governments over the democratic rights of ordinary citizens. This is why the preliminary statement from the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) on...