Botswana readies for CITES showdown

Ready to rumble: Senyatso is upbeat about the country’s prospects at CITES PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Ready to rumble: Senyatso is upbeat about the country’s prospects at CITES PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Local wildlife authorities are conducting last-minute lobbying of diplomats and others, as the country prepares for a highly contentious Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting, where several West African states are pushing for a ban on Botswana’s elephant trophy hunting.

CITES is an international body binding 184 states to agreements on the trade and protection of endangered plants and animals.

The upcoming Conference of Parties (CoP) is CITES’ highest decision-making meeting held every three years where countries frequently clash over proposals to tighten or loosen trade in various animals and plants.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up