The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
ANIMAL protection lobby organisation, Speak Out For Animals has said it is carrying out court interventions for wildlife cases in Matabeleland North and South, a programme meant to combat wildlife crime in the two provinces.
In an interview, Speak Out For Animals legal officer Mr Innocent Rupapa said the programme the organisation was carrying out in Matabeleland North and South was in line with the aim of raising awareness about the laws that protect wildlife to various stakeholders.
“We are currently working on a programme set to combating wildlife crime in Matabeleland North and South. We are doing court intervention for wildlife cases and we intend to bring awareness of the laws which protect wildlife to our stakeholders. Our stakeholders include the community, game rangers and those who are frontline defences for wildlife,” said Mr Rupapa.
He also noted that in collaboration with other stakeholders involved in the protection of wildlife throughout the country, the court monitoring activities being conducted were through concerted efforts to ensure that the wildlife crimes being monitored are being expediently prosecuted.
“We are monitoring all wildlife crimes as we believe that all animals no matter of their stature are important because of their intrinsic value rather than their extrinsic value. Fighting wildlife crime is not a one-man show and through inter-agency co-operation we have taken strides in our cause,” he said.
Mr Rupapa said the organisation has identified wildlife crime hotspot areas which include Hwange, Kariba, Karoi, Binga, Guruve, Mt Darwin, Harare, Beitbridge, Masvingo, Mutare, Chiredzi, Victoria Falls and many wildlife cases were being heard at Harare Magistrates Court.
He said the organisation was also conducting training for investigation departments for Zimparks, the police, private investigators and judicial offices meant to equip and capacitate them with the vital information relating to combating wildlife crimes using the legal system.
