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Chirundu Project : Second Phase communiqué
On the 24th June 2005, the Zimbabwe Conservation Development Foundation (ZCDF), brought attention to substantiated information of a structured group of farmers, business persons, companies and other independent stakeholders, having moved comprehensively towards launching Stage 1 of a 120,000 hectare agricultural development in the proclaimed Urungwe, Chewore and Sapi Safari Areas and the Mana Pools National Park bordering on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.
The ZCDF has subsequently learned that a decision to "stop" the development has been made. What is not clear is whether this decision has been taken for economic reasons, or because of the exposure the project received from the objection released. It is however known, that the term "hot potato" was used by the developers to describe the prominence surrounding the proposed development.
The level of prudence that needs to be applied though, given the added decision by the developers to consign the matter to a senior government executive for attention, is that to protect the interests of the project, the "stop" decision is intended as a smoke screen, or it could have been moved into "suspension" mode rather than a complete stoppage, if at all. Given this, the ZCDF will continue to closely collaborate with information sources to secure insight to any further motives or decisions that may be taken by the developers.
The Chirundu Project, the threats it poses and the multifaceted escalating annihilation of wild and natural assets persé in Zimbabwe, are what the ZCDF exists for in actively engaging and preventing. The organisation subscribes to the need for intense vigilance, research, evaluation and preventive action across all applicable frontiers in its endeavours. The adversaries in this daunting task are lawlessness, greed, bribery, corruption and unsustainably discreditable covenants of conservation and natural resources management.
As the ZCDF assiduously crusades for the protection, propagation and progressive development of the country’s feral resources for benefit to all, bar none, the organisation accepts this cannot be achieved alone. Thus, the ZCDF welcomes input from and through partnerships with those in a pool of resources of excellent experience, qualification and compatible philosophy.
A major hurdle at this time is, the perilous state of wild and natural resource affairs being exacerbated by intensifying complexities that underscore the applicable emergency factors. It could be argued, that resolutions no longer exist in doing things right, but moreover in doing the right things. In the context of this, the ZCDF in close alliance with willing partners will stand firm in actively preventing the Chirundu Project, or any such likened proposal.
Thank you.
The Zimbabwe Conservation and Development Foundation