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.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...