Harare ,(New Ziana) -There is need for African countries to speak with one voice on wildlife conservation and sustainable use at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), scheduled for November 24 to December 5 this year in Uzbekistan.
Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Evelyn Ndlovu said this during an engagement with the diplomatic community on CITES and wildlife conservation in Harare on Tuesday.
She stressed on the urgent need for Africa to reconcile its divergent positions on conservation, particularly on elephant management and ivory trade.
“Africa is the biodiversity hub of the world, and the livelihoods of our communities are intricately linked to wildlife. We cannot afford to ignore this reality. The survival of our biodiversity is directly tied to our capacity to respond to threats such as climate change, overexploitation, and pollution,” she said.
Ndlovu noted that while CITES was established over 50 years ago to regulate international trade in endangered species based on science and sustainability, current restrictions on ivory have disproportionately burdened countries like Zimbabwe, which hold large elephant populations and costly ivory stockpiles.
“Zimbabwe’s elephant population now stands at over 85 000, nearly double the country’s carrying capacity of 45 000. Over the past 5 years, more than 370 people have been killed and thousands of livestock lost to human-wildlife conflict. This is a clear sign of overpopulation, yet we remain unable to benefit from our ivory stockpiles due to CITES restrictions,” she said.
She argued that the outright ban on international ivory sales denies Zimbabwe and other Southern African states the opportunity to raise much-needed conservation funds.
“Maintaining ivory stockpiles has become increasingly costly. Unlocking their value could provide significant resources for wildlife protection, rural development, and community empowerment,” she added.
Ndlovu also appealed to diplomats to communicate Zimbabwe’s concerns to their capitals, noting that lack of financial resources is the greatest challenge for wildlife conservation across Africa.
She urged delegates to support financing mechanisms, law enforcement strengthening, and the removal of what she termed “disproportionate restrictions” under CITES.
Ndlovu further highlighted the role of rural communities, calling for their inclusion in decision-making processes.
“Communities that coexist with wildlife bear the brunt of the costs. They deserve tangible benefits from conservation and sustainable use. Without their buy-in, conservation will not succeed,” she explained.
Turning to continental cooperation, Ndlovu welcomed the efforts of the African Union to place wildlife and biodiversity issues high on its agenda, saying consensus would strengthen the bargaining power of the continent at global platforms such as CITES.
“At CITES CoP20, we must strike a balance between conservation and the sovereign right to sustainably use our wildlife resources. Let us leave behind divisions and move forward in unity,” she said.
The engagement comes as Zimbabwe intensifies preparations for CITES CoP20, where debates over ivory trade, elephant management, and sustainable use are expected to dominate the agenda.
New Ziana
