Poachers surrender 500 guns
2007-08-01 09:49
Lusaka - Zambian poachers have handed more than 500 rifles to the government through an amnesty programme in which poachers are provided with agriculture support in exchange for guns, says an official.
Deputy tourism minister Michael Kaingu said poachers surrendered more than 500 illegal firearms and 5 000 snared within a period of 10 months through a programme supported by the Norwegian government.
Kaingu said: "It is a known fact that people with no sustainable livelihood will inevitably turn to the natural resources as a source of livelihood."
The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zambian government had developed a programme to eliminate poaching by rewarding those who surrendered their guns by giving them support to set up small farming communities.
Kaingu said: "It is therefore imperative that we work towards reducing rural poverty, not only because it is in line with our conservation objectives, but also because poverty in general is inhuman."
Poaching in Zambia was said to be on the increase in areas near national game parks due to the high levels of poverty and unemployment in rural parts of the country.
- SAPA