Sadc fed up with Cites position on elephants

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
SEVERAL African countries have agreed to work on an instrument to sell wildlife products, including ivory, to raise funds for conservation.

But Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) frameworks restrict trade in ivory in a bid to fight poaching.

In a declaration endorsed by Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe at last week’s African Elephant Summit held at Hwange National Park, Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries said they were tired of being dictated to by Cites when they are struggling to look after their wildlife.

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