NGO seeks interdict over Zimbabwe elephant trade

An environmental and wildlife NGO has applied for an interdict to force the government to provide details of Zimbabwe's elephant trade with China and other Asian markets. Lawyers for the People and Earth Solidarity Law Network (PESLawyers) filed papers in the High Court in Harare over what they said were futile attempts to communicate with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks). A TimesLIVE report notes that the application comes at a time when trophy hunters predict there will be an influx of elephants into Zimbabwe due to Botswana's decision to lift its five-year ban on elephant hunting. Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira said 97 juvenile elephants with a value of $2.7m, have been sold to China and the UAE over the past six years. ‘The application calls for the respondents to release all information relating to the planned export of elephants from Zimbabwe to any foreign country, especially information on the buyers, numbers, specific destinations, selling prices,’ said PESLawyers.