TOURISM and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela has said Government will keep lobbying through cooperating partners to convince the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for Zambia to offload the ivory stockpile at Chilanga.
The Minister said keeping the more than 40 tonnes of ivory for unknown future has become expensive as some of the ivory dates back to more than 40 years ago.
Speaking during a meeting with the new German Ambassador Dr. Anne Wagner Mitchell, the Minister said the communities that are supposed to benefits from the resource are not instead, the stockpile has created a ‘cost centre’ as Government has to employ highest level of security which has become an expensive venture.
The policy maker there is need to offload the ivory and invest back in conservation to the benefit of the various communities around the country.
Hon. Chitotela said the trade restrictions in disposing the ivory have taken a negative toll on the country and Zambia is like being told to ‘guard the stock in perpetuity’ with no benefits.
And Ambassador Mitchell said she needs to learn more about the various intricacies regarding tourism sector in Zambia considering that she new to the country.
The envoy however stressed the need for communities to be brought close to all conservation initiative by making them beneficiaries.
We need to resolve this. What is point holding on to it if we are not using it.
So daft – no one wants it
To sell ivory tasks dubiously and you did with wild animals in game reserves to fund those rings on your fingers
Chitotela you survived death sentence, but still want to go back to day robbery, and worse now to Ivory??? It is hard to repent.
The only people who want ivory are the Chinaman, as for the high cost of guarding it just do what Kenya did a few years ago, they burnt it, problem solved.
This stockpile needs to be sold. The issue of burning these stockpiles, as has been the case in the past is wrong and these advocacy groups should not deprive poor countries of readily available cash. Help us to fight this poaching for ivory (run by Asian gangs), that is all we need, and that which is confiscated must be sold.
Having spent $18 Billion like drunken sailors (apologies to all drunken sailors for likening you to this lot! Even while drunk, some of you leave some for the next drink), they are now sifting through the pockets of every garment in the wardrobe to find pocket change. Isn’t this the time to show, reap and use returns from your investment?
And you want us to give you another five years given those quixotic dives under the bed, under seat cushions and your eyes peeled back and fixed on the ground as you walk in hope of finding that stray lone 50 ngwee. Please let someone else have a turn. We are 18 million strong. We are not short on alternatives and we all have a claim to State House. That was the premise of our independence.
Always looking for the easy way out. Use the grey matter under your skull to find a sustainable solution. For 40 years you’ve just been sitting on 40 tonnes of ivory but can’t figure out how to convert it to wealth. The same applies to all our resources. Therein lies our curse as Africans – we just want the Muzungus to pay us for it or else we are plain clueless. Bob Marley sang “In the abundance of water, a fool is thirsty..”
Always looking for the easy way out. Use the grey matter under your skull to find a sustainable solution. For 40 years you’ve just been sitting on 40 tonnes of ivory but can’t figure out how to convert it to wealth. The same applies to all our resources. Therein lies our curse as Africans – we just want the Muzungus to pay us for it or else we are plain clueless.
Do some artisanal developments for the local markets. I bet you if those stockpiles were in the West they would have already consumed them locally. Let’s begin to own our resources for once mwandini.
Seriously guys, Chitotela is a true and present danger to zambian wild life. Even the animals that died 40 years ago are under threat.
Lungu’s cabinet awe sure!
Earlier, it was Kapata telling people not to depend on their salaries. Miss Mukula herself.
If we are serious about protecting our elephants, we shall burn these.
Knowing Chitotela, he has probably already found a buyer and has been promised a percentage from the sale, he is just waiting for international clearance.
If we sale this stockpile, we are also saying it won’t be a problem in the future, elephants may be killed, we shall only jail the poachers but sale the ivory.
Take a stand please!
BURN THE IVORY AND RATHER SELL MOTOR MOUTH >>>>>>>>>>M
That’s Chitotela for you he will ransack everything and anything of value to pocket the money.
Mr. Minister, what negative toll has this taken on our country? Zero. Burn the ivory like yesterday. Someone is seeing easy money there.
That is what happens when you are broke. You even sell your bamba.
Tarino moved to his masters country in the days of kaunda and never been back home due to lack of papers. And yet here he is acting like he knows the minister personally. See your life
I dont respond to silly impostors!
When Sylva Maseyo was Tourism Minister she lobbyed for banning of Big Cat hunting and she did it….this thief Lazy Lungu’s friend Chitotela is just after looting and selling everything to his Chinese masters.
Sell them already then let’s pump the proceeds into the economy
Ba chitotela just burn the ivory chapwa.lobbying for what? A good example is Kenya in East Africa which has been burning ivory for years .Ba PF you want to sell what ever glitters in your eyes.Do not think UNIP and Kaunda were stupid for not selling it.why should you employee people to guard it any way just wasting government funds.Solution is put kerosene and light. Chapwa
Lets just burn them otherwise no one is going to see cash. going into people s pockets chapwa
Finally, years of independence has brought about correct thinking. May I suggest an additional approach that you can consider to compliment this timely suggestion. Change legislation to have the stockpile of elephant tusks and Rhino horns be considered as part of our central bank reserves just like Gold. Get approval from relevant international bodies that this is the last resource that the country will sell when reserves are almost depleted. There is a market value for these use that. Then move stockpile to BOZ. It’s safest there.
DAR ES SALAAM Jan 9 (Reuters) – Tanzanian President John Magufuli said on Wednesday the central bank should start buying the country’s gold to curb smuggling and build reserves to stabilise the currency.
The mining sector contributes around 4.8 percent of GDP, the government said last year.
“It is impossible to see gold is stolen everywhere… governor you should work on this,” Magufuli said, referring to the central bank governor.