Harare, (New Ziana) — Zimbabwe scored a major victory at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), after securing permission to trade in value-added products from elephant hides derived from natural mortality, problem animal management, or herd control.
Until now, Zimbabwe had been barred from commercially trading elephant hides, an anomaly that the government described as unjustified and economically damaging, with the move rekindling hope for sustainable wildlife utilisation after years of stalled progress.
The delegation, led by Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, returned home buoyed by the adoption of one of the most important proposals, an achievement hailed as a turning point in the country’s long-standing push to unlock value from its abundant wildlife resources.
In a statement, permanent secretary in the Ministry, Tedias Chifamba said Zimbabwe, home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, estimated at 91 000 to 100 000, has consistently argued that restrictive trade policies deprive the nation of critical revenue for conservation.
The country currently holds over 190 tons of ivory and several tons of rhino horn, valued at approximately US$600 million.
“These resources are urgently needed to manage wildlife and habitats, particularly as elephant numbers have exceeded the ecological carrying capacity of major conservation areas. However, due to CITES restriction Zimbabwe cannot unlock this value. Among the seven proposals submitted by Zimbabwe, Proposal 14 emerged as the most pivotal. It sought to remove unique restrictions on Zimbabwe’s elephants, listed under CITES Appendix II alongside Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa,” said Chifamba.
The Ministry has since announced that export regulations will be implemented immediately to capitalize on the positive outcome, paving the way for growth in the biodiversity economy including wildlife, forestry, fisheries, bio-trade, and ecosystem services.
Chifamba said while the victory on elephant hides was celebrated, other proposals were rejected, including a bid to remove the giraffe from its Appendix II listing, based on new scientific evidence of a distinct Southern African subspecies.
“However, this will not significantly affect trade, as Zimbabwe maintains a reservation on giraffes entered after their listing at CoP18 in Geneva (2019) allowing continued international trade,” he said, adding a bid to remove the giraffe from Appendix II was also rejected.
Chifamba said another proposal that sought to establish an Advisory Sub-Committee for People Living Alongside Wild Species (PLFF) was also unsuccessful, an initiative which was aimed at giving communities that bear the burden of living with wildlife a formal platform within CITES processes.
Though it was rejected, Zimbabwe managed to secure agreement for continued intersessional discussions, keeping the issue alive for future meetings.
Zimbabwe also welcomed the defeat of a proposal seeking to shut down all domestic ivory markets globally, a move the country argues would erode the principle of sustainable use, which forms the bedrock of Southern Africa’s conservation model.
Officials credited the country’s strengthened diplomatic standing for the positive outcomes at CoP20 after it assumed the Chairmanship of the newly formed African Group of Negotiations under the African Union Commission, a position that enhanced its influence in shaping the continent’s collective bargaining stance.
Technical teams led by Chifamba held extensive consultations with Parties such as the European Union, United States, Japan, China, Kazakhstan, and fellow African states.
Notably, CoP20 marked the first time Zimbabwe received direct support from both the European Union and the United States on key motions, an unprecedented diplomatic boost.
As Zimbabwe charts its next steps, the government says its focus is on consolidating gains from CoP20 while continuing to push for reforms within CITES that recognise the rights of states to sustainably manage healthy wildlife populations.
New Ziana
