Business
Zimbabwe Seeks Permission To Auction Ivory Stocks
Zimbabwe said it had accumulated 50 tonnes of ivory.
The country said it will ask the international body
regulating its trade for permission to auction its stocks to fund conservation
of the animals, the head of the country’s wildlife agency said.
The ivory has been confiscated from poachers or recovered as
a result of natural deaths or government-sanctioned elephant culls, officials
said.
Zimbabwe says it needs to raise extra funds to deal with its
burgeoning elephant population, which is about 100,000, one of the largest in
Africa.
Adult elephants consume about 100 to 300 kgs (220 to 660
pounds) of food a day, studies have shown.
Officials say their growing numbers are straining the
impoverished country’s resources and posing a threat to plant life.
Some 30 million dollars is required each year for
conservation of the animals and anti-poaching in Zimbabwe.
But Vitalis Chadenga, director-general of the Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority, told Media that the current budget was “very far
from there”.
“There is a point where our elephant population can get so
much to a point where they self “destruct” and this is happening in some of the
parks,” he said.
In 2008, Zimbabwe was allowed to conduct a one-off sale of
3.9 tonnes of ivory by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This is the international group that governs trade in plants
and animals.
Plagued by corruption, Zimbabwe provided detailed documents
to CITES showing how the money raised from the sale went directly into
conservation.
Zimbabwe faces an October deadline to make its request to
CITES if it wants to quickly sell the tusks.
However, conservationists worry the sale could fuel demand
for ivory, especially in the fast-growing emerging economic powers of Asia
where it is often used in carved ornaments.
Although elephants are prolific in Zimbabwe, poaching and a
loss of habitat have made them a threatened species in large parts of Africa.
A global ban on the ivory trade was imposed in 1989 and was
widely credited with stemming the relentless slaughter of African elephants in
countries such as Kenya.
Occasional auctions from African government stockpiles have
since been sanctioned.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
Reports say that the training is designed to equip youths with practical technical skills for employment in the oil and gas and construction sectors, with emphasis on employability, safety, competence and self reliance.
In attendance at the flag-off ceremony this week, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Hall, Effurun, were stakeholders, dignitaries, and political representatives, among others.
Dafinone, represented by his Chief of Staff, Adelabu Bodjor, said the initiative reflects a deliberate political investment in human capital development across Delta Central.
He explained that the training focuses on rigging and scaffolding, noting that “both are essential technical competencies required in industrial operations, construction projects, and oil and gas installations”.
Bodjor added, “The programme is intended to reduce dependency among youths by providing job-ready skills capable of supporting long-term economic opportunities and self-sufficiency. The initiative aligns with Senator Dafinone’s broader development agenda, which prioritises practical skill acquisition as a pathway to sustainable empowerment.”
Also addressing the participants, the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Mr. Teddy Bai, commended Dafinone for sponsoring the programme, describing it as “a timely response to critical manpower gaps in the industry”.
Bai explained that rigging and scaffolding remain safety-sensitive skills required across fabrication yards, offshore platforms, and construction sites, stressing that the programme bridges the gap between certification and practical competence.
He also charged the training consultant, OROH Contractors Limited, to maintain strict standards of professionalism, safety, and discipline, while urging participants to remain committed, focused, and disciplined throughout the exercise.
The Senate Liaison Officer for Sapele Local Government Area, Chief Patrick Akamuvba, , described the programme as a major step in strengthening human capital development in Delta Central.
Akamuvba said scaffolding and rigging skills are in high demand across residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects, noting that the training offers real employment opportunities for beneficiaries
He urged participants to prioritise knowledge and certification over short-term material expectations, stressing that discipline and seriousness would determine their long-term success.
He also cautioned youths against social vices and distractions, advising them to remain focused to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme.
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