Tendai Makaripe
ENVIRONMENT Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has invited Arsenal’s inform midfielder Aaron Ramsey to visit Zimbabwe after the Welsh footballer expressed concern over the poisoning of elephants in the country.
The country has come under the spotlight after it emerged that a group of ruthless poachers went on a rampage killing over 100 elephants by poisoning water holes with cyanide.
Ramsey who was evidently shocked out of his skin by such unbecoming behaviour poured his heart out on the micro blogging site Twitter where he expressed his alarm.
“Just read about elephants being poisoned in Zimbabwe. Absolutely shocking!,” he tweeted.
Kasukuwere replied to Ramsey’s tweet, assuring the footballer that the matter was under control.
“Thank you for your concern. Matter under control. I’m inviting you to visit Zimbabwe,” said the Minister who was moved from the indigenisation portfolio to the Environment Ministry in President Mugabe’s post-election cabinet.
Yesterday, Kasukuwere visited Hwange accompanied by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Agriculture minister Joseph Made and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Jonathan Moyo to witness the disposal of the elephants’ carcasses.
Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa’s largest herds, with half of an estimated 80 000 elephants thought to be in Hwange.
Kasukuwere has been quoted in the media blasting poaching activities and declaring war on poachers and vowing to effectively deal with anyone caught indulging in poaching activities.
Wildlife officials say at least 81 elephants were killed for their ivory tusks by poachers using cyanide poison in water holes at Hwange National Park in one of the country’s biggest ecological disasters.
Eight poachers were arrested and three of them have since been sentenced to 16 years in jail each and ordered to pay fines of up to US$200,000.
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