The Reign of Terror Continues in Zimbabwe

In previous issues of the AWI Quarterly we reported on the disastrous wildlife poaching that has occurred rampantly during the recent violence in Zimbabwe. Black "war veterans," incited by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, have been violently seizing white-owned farm land, killing humans and wildlife in the process. In one of the most recent incidents, according to Reuters, a white farm owner was allegedly trying to escape his land when he was dragged from his car, tied to a tree, and shot. Wild animals including elephants, hippos, rhinos, cheetah, and others, are consistently shot or snared, primarily for their meat.

AWI recently learned that domestic livestock and people's companion animals are under assault as well. Meryl Harrison, Chief Inspector and National Coordinator of the Zimbabwe National Society for the Protection of Animals, is criss-crossing the country trying to rescue these innocent victims of the Zimbabwean hostilities.

Cattle, sheep, and goats are indiscriminately slaughtered or abandoned. On one farm, the owners left behind hundreds of pigs with enough food for two months but the pillagers sold the feed, leaving the animals to starve. Piglets on that farm are reportedly dying each day. "Dozens of pigs had died and the starving surviving animals were feeding on the rotting carcasses," reads a report from February 3, 2002. Through Meryl's indefatigable efforts, 84 pigs were saved (though she paid to rescue 100), but over 500 remain.

A group of people in one incident stoned a young female dog named "fox" and left her for dead. Only three months old, her spine was crushed by the rocks that slammed against her. She died shortly after being reached by Meryl. In some instances, dogs and other pets are abandoned when landowners are forced to escape their property. One farmer said that looters had bludgeoned one of his two cats right in front of him.

Left: Lucky dogs arrive at the rescue center set up to receive all displaced animals in this area.   Right: Meryl tries to save as many pigs and other animals as she can. (Photo by NSPCA)

However, even some of the worst cases ended in successful rescues by Meryl and her associates. One rescued dog had an axe embedded in her back while another, "Zulu," was used by looters to hunt and "had his throat torn open by a warthog," Meryl reports. In another case, missing dogs were reunited with their owners: "After some time the most emaciated dog I have ever seen arrived at the village. I knew immediately from the description we had that he was the other missing dog. He came straight to me, sat down and his warm amber colored eyes stared at me. He was covered in ticks, every vertebra on his back stood out but he could still wag his tail. The settlers themselves offered to lift him into the back of our truck. A few hours later after a vet check he was reunited with his overjoyed owners."

President Robert Mugabe was sworn in for another six-year presidential term on Sunday, March 17, 2002, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Clearly, the manner in which Mugabe has waged his two-year land redistribution campaign has alienated his country from the rest of the world and caused remarkable domestic suffering to people and wildlife. When we initially reported on the situation in Zimbabwe in the winter 2001 issue, we concluded that an unending violent chaos in Zimbabwe "could prove irreversibly disastrous for both its wildlife and its people." Now we have to add livestock and pets to that list of victims.

Donations to assist Meryl's essential animal welfare work in Zimbabwe can be sent marked "ZIMHELP" to the NSPCA at PO Box 1320, Alberton, 1450, SOUTH AFRICA or contact the NSPCA on 011-27-11-907-3590 for details on how to donate.