Three SADC states go to battle against CITES

Botswana's elephants have been making news worldwide PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Botswana's elephants have been making news worldwide PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

JOHANNESBURG: Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe are going to submit protest documents that will allow them to legally trade in their elephants, rhino and giraffes.

The three countries are declaring themselves independent of the controls exercised by the Geneva-based UN Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

They are joined in their protest by another five unnamed Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries whose proposals to trade in live wildlife and wildlife products were also rejected at the tri-annual CITES meeting in August.

Editor's Comment
Botswana at a critical juncture

While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...

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