Conservationists blast massive slaughter of wildlife at Mugabe’s birthday bash

via Conservationists blast massive slaughter of wildlife at Mugabe’s birthday bash – The Zimbabwean 22 February 2015

Conservationists have condemned the massive slaughter of wildlife to feed delegates at Mugabe’s birthday bash saying the practice was “disgusting”.

Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce (ZCTF), Johnny Rodrigues said elephants, kudus, buffaloes and warthogs were among the wildlife that would be slaughtered at Mugabe’s birthday bash in Victoria Falls.

“This weekend, Mugabe is having a huge party at Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls to celebrate his 91st birthday. Apparently, 20 000 people are expected to attend and a vast array of wildlife meat will be on the menu.

“They will be killing elephants, kudu, warthogs etcetera to feed the guests. We are disgusted about this. Mugabe once gave a speech on television saying he looks after all the animals in the country, right down to the insects. There are so many people starving in Zimbabwe and the people invited to the party will not be those who are starving,” said Rodrigues.

He expressed skepticism over the success of Mugabe’s wife, Grace’s wildlife sanctuary in Mazowe.

“The first animals to take residence in the new game farm were a herd of 100 zebras and shortly after arriving there, they broke through the fence and ate all the crops in the surrounding area. If she can’t keep zebras confined to the game park, we wonder how she will keep elephants and buffaloes.

“It will also be interesting to see how she is going to keep leopards that will easily be able to escape,” said Rodrigues.

Zimbabweans took to social media today to remind Mugabe on his birthday that it was high time he takes “a deserved rest”.

Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is blamed for having presided over the fall of the Zimbabwean economy.

The high levels of poverty among ordinary Zimbabweans, the majority of whom live far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) is in sharp contrast to the affluent lives of Mugabe and his political lieutenants.

Critical sectors of the Zimbabwean economy remain in a sorry state while Mugabe and his cronies live a life of plenty.