Government blacklists outspoken wildlife conservationist

By Tererai Karimakwenda
22 January 2007

The Sunday Independent reports that government wildlife officials have blacklisted the Conservation Task Force run by Johnny Rodrigues and refused to accept money raised by his group to save animals in Hwange National Park. While the government has no money or spare parts to fix water pumps that bring lifesaving water to the animals, they have turned down £600,000 raised through donations plus new pumps, spare parts and fuel also donated due to Rodrigues’ efforts.

The story is nothing new in Zimbabwe where any critic of the government, however constructive, is deemed an enemy of the state and treated harshly. Rodrigues has been outspoken about wildlife issues and has exposed the brutal treatment of animals and environmental abuses that have taken place while government officials benefit financially. And now the wildlife officials accuse him of making false reports about the management of Zimbabwe’s wildlife areas.

Rodrigues said the case will be taken up by lawyers. He added that he was accused of being at the forefront of a campaign of lies to the West and that the Parks officials described him as a liability to the nation. But he believes they are in fact protecting their illegal and abusive activities in the National Parks. Rodrigues told us there are rumours that a silent cull taking place and they do not want him around to see many animals dying. He believes he has been targeted because he has in the past exposed the capture of animals illegally.

Looking at the physical, tangible results of efforts by Rodrigues and the Conservation Task Force, it is difficult to understand why the government would want to eliminate such a useful and well connected resource. Rodrigues said tourism has declined drastically and there is no money for Parks maintenance. Through a newly formed group called The Friends of Hwange Conservation Society, funds were donated to pay school fees for the children of park employees. Rodrigues said they also had enough to pay bonuses to pump attendants. 10,000 litres of fuel were donated to keep pumps going through winter and a solar pump project was in development.

The officials are aware of these accomplishments, yet the director-general of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Morris Mtsambiwa wrote to Rodrigues saying: "Due to continuous negative and false reports emanating from your organisation about conservation in Zimbabwe, the authority can no longer afford to associate with you, as this association is now a liability to the nation … with immediate effect the authority will no longer accept any donations that will come through your organisation."

We were unable to reach Mtsambiwa for comment. Judging by their deeds, it is clear that by blacklisting the Conservation Task Force and The Friends of Hwange Conservation Society, the Zimbabwe government is effectively deciding that animals should die of thirst and the Parks should be abandoned due to a lack of funds.