SADC reignites fight to sell ivory, but to who?

In the news: Regional states want the rules on ivory trade relaxed PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
In the news: Regional states want the rules on ivory trade relaxed PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

Five Southern African countries with the largest populations of elephants recently met in Hwange, Zimbabwe to resuscitate their fight to trade ivory for the first time since 2008. Between then and now, the world has turned against the ivory trade and even in the unlikely event that the responsible global wildlife trade organisation agrees, analysts are asking who the buyers would be. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

North Korea. This is the only country a leading elephant conservation biologist says would be the sole target market in the world for any ivory Southern Africa states may want to sell.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the international body regulating trade in wildlife, binds its members to agreements that restrict the buying and selling of elephants and their related products.

Editor's Comment
BDP primaries leave a lot to be desired

The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...

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