The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
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HALGLEN ANIMAL CONSERVANCY
Contrary to the Government's statement that the land seizures are now over, the very few white farmers and game ranchers who have so far managed to hold on to their properties are now under pressure to give up their land. Justice for Agriculture has issued a warning to those farmers who were not previously gazetted for land resettlement, that operation "clean sweep" is about to take place whereby high-ranking government officials want the remaining farmers and their workers off their land.
40 kilometres north-east of Bulawayo are two game farms adjoining each other are known as the "Halglen Animal Conservancy". This 4 500 hectare conservancy, which is completely unsuitable for agriculture, is one of the very few places in Zimbabwe which still has wildlife and the owners have gone to enormous expense to protect the 3 200 animals there. The properties are properly fenced and adequate watering points have been positioned throughout. In addition to this, 12 trained scouts patrol and protect these animals 24 hours a day from poachers.
The owners of Halglen are now under pressure to give up the conservancy and sacrifice 3 200 wild animals to untrained and undisciplined people. The records show that on most of the other game ranches and conservancies that have been resettled, the wildlife has been wiped out in a very short space of time. On many game farms where the wildlife was previously abundant, there is literally nothing left. The game has been indiscriminately poached and slaughtered by the settlers and in addition to this, they have been selling hunts to unscrupulous hunters from South Africa and Botswana who are capitalizing of the chaotic situation here in flagrant defiance of the laws laid down by National Parks, Zatso and the Zimbabwe Tourist Authority. Because of this the country has lost millions of dollars in foreign currency.
Unless we have a change of government, it seems we are powerless to stop this tragedy which is unfolding daily. There is very little wildlife left here now and we need to save these 3 200 animals from being slaughtered by a handful of greedy, misguided individuals who will, no doubt, hunt them for personal gain as they have already done countrywide. WE NEED HELP!
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Phone 09 2634 336479
Fax 09 2634 335114
Mobile 09 263 11 603213