Former CITES SG's advice to Botswana: Speak truth to Western power

Friday, August 23, 2019

The natural resources belong to Botswana, but visitors assign the value PIC: Thalefang Charles

Eugene Lapointe, who served as CITES secretary general from 1982 to 1990, has advice for Botswana and her neighbours in the ongoing fight over how to extract value from elephants. Stand up to the bullies in the West. He spoke to Mmegi Staff Writer MBOGENI MGUNI

“If Africa is serious about balancing both conservation and development, it has to have the courage to do the right thing.

“So, it must cease being bossed around by Western-fuelled lobbies that are blind to reason. “That requires Africa to stand up for itself on the world stage by speaking truth to Western powers.

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