Tough choices loom for SADC after CITES

At the time of writing, Environment and Tourism minister, Philda Kereng and her team would have been wrapping up their debates at the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) and preparing to pack their bags to return home.

While some victories were scored at the 11-day Conference of Parties (CoP), CITES’ highest decision-making meeting held every three years, the delegations from Botswana as well as Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and the general SADC region, would feel hard done by the rejection of several key proposals.