The Ivory Paradox: Zimbabwe Says Trade Ban Harms Conservation
John Cassim Zimbabwe has called for the lifting of the ivory trade ban, arguing that trading its existing stockpiles will raise much-needed funds to continue wildlife conservation efforts and help combat illegal wildlife trafficking. Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Evelyn Ndlovu, made this call during the CITES COP-20 Stakeholder Consultation meeting held in Bulawayo this […]
Congolese Ivory Trafficker Arrested in Lusaka With loads of Tusks
Six men including a Congolese suspected to be the Ivory trafficking kingpin, paraded after a raid that led to their arrest in Lusaka Zambia. John Cassim Zambia’s Ministry of Tourism, through its Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), has nabbed a Congolese suspected to be the ivory trafficking kingpin in the country. Five accomplices […]
Kapenta Industry in Crisis: Economic Pressures Lead to Unsustainable Fishing
A crate of Kapenta on a scale, a few minutes after offloading on the shores of Lake Kariba, a full crate weighs between 50kg and 60kg but when dried the weight is just a third of this mass.Credit: ConserveZim – John Cassim John Cassim The Kapenta fishing industry on Lake Kariba faces a critical decline, […]
Zimbabwe Launches National Action Plan Phase Two to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
John Cassim The Zimbabwean government launched its second National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP 2.0) 2024–2028 on Thursday. This launch comes amid reports that drug resistance complications caused 15,800 deaths in Zimbabwe in 2019. Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) currently causes an estimated 700,000 deaths annually, exceeding deaths from cancer and many other non-communicable diseases. […]
The Future of Fisheries in Zimbabwe: Examining Ambitious Targets
John Cassim Zimbabweans are often apathetic, fearful, and critical, a mindset stemming from past disappointments with heavily promoted but ultimately failed government programs. The Jatropha farming initiative, launched in 2006, serves as a prime example. The multimillion-dollar processing plant in Mt Hampden, once touted as the first of its kind in Africa, became a white […]
Zimbabwean Aquaculture Fish: A Potentially Safer Protein Source
John Cassim Experts have revealed that Zimbabwean fish produced through aquaculture could be a safer source of protein, as no fish-to-human disease transmission has been recorded. This positive finding comes amid global concerns about the alarming rise of zoonotic diseases, contributing to Neglected Tropical Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in humans. While wild fish can […]
Anti-Rhino Poaching Efforts Celebrated in Southern Africa: More Still Needs to Be Done
John Cassim The 78th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 3-8 February 2025, will hear about the gains made in the regional fight against illegal trade and the killing of rhinos. Just two weeks […]
Professor Edson Gandiwa Appointed New ZimParks Boss
John Cassim Professor Edson Gandiwa, a renowned wildlife ecologist and professor at Chinhoyi University of Technology, has been appointed as the new Director General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). He succeeds Dr. Fulton Mangwanya, who recently assumed the position of Director General of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO). This appointment is […]
AWF continue to empower female rangers in the Zambezi Valley.
-According to the AWF Country Director, this initiative demonstrates the necessity of engaging women in developmental areas such as conservation. John Cassim Masvingo, Zimbabwe (CZ) – The ground temperature was 3 degrees Celsius, and it was cloudy and drizzly, but the thrill of finishing a monthlong basic ranger training at the ZimParks run Zimbabwe Institute […]
Richard Branson in Zim for a conservation walk
-Richard Branson is here on an expedition in the Zambezi Valley by invitation of the Zambezi Elephant Fund, officials revealed. John Cassim Harare, Zimbabwe (CZ) – Billionaire and philanthropist Richard Branson jetted into Harare on June 30, following an invitation by the Zambezi Elephant Fund. Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, which owns Virgin Airlines, […]