Why it would be a problem for Zimbabwe to repay debt to China with wild life
China denies a game for guns deal, but Zimbabwe’s environment minister advocates animal sales to raise cash and shows little grasp of conservation, writes Keith Somerville
A bizarre story from Zimbabwe is that Grace Mugabe, powerful wife of ageing President Robert Mugabe, came up with the idea of settling a debt to China with 35 young elephants, eight lions, 12 hyenas and a giraffe. The debt was run up in 1998 when Zimbabwe sent troops and bought equipment from China to help President Laurent Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabila needed help fighting off a rebel movement backed by Uganda and Rwanda. Zimbabwe’s use of wildlife as a commodity is not new. And it’s not the only country to do so. It is quite common for southern African states to sell what they consider to be surplus animals to zoos or safari parks outside Africa. But the removal of young elephants from their herds – as has happened in Zimbabwe – is highly damaging to the animals and to the herd as a whole. This form of removal has been called a "a mad act of cruelty". The Zimbabwean embassy in China denied reports of the sale and there has been no word from the environment min...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.