Zim suspends Ivory sales

Authorities in Zimbabwe have suspended all sales of ivory in a bid to stop underhand deals, it was reported on Monday....

Last year police busted an ivory smuggling syndicate when they found 72 elephant tusks at a home in Harare's plush Greendale suburb.

Investigations have also netted a former legislator for the ruling Zanu-PF party, Walter Mutsauri, who allegedly abused his trophy dealer's licence by selling 67 tusks to two Chinese nationals, according to the Herald.

The newspaper said a six-member committee had been set up to establish a new working system for ivory dealers that will allow the authorities to better monitor their activities.

There is also a need to put in place stringent monitoring measures to control the country's domestic ivory market and ensure that all licensed ivory dealers adhere to what is required of them by Zimbabwe's laws and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), Mbewe added.
...