Uganda Rural Community Support USA

The U.S. ambassador to Senegal, Dane
Farnsworth Smit Jr, has cautioned youths in the country not to be lured
into tobacco smoking by attractive publicity sports about cigarettes.

He made the warning in a speech to the Senegalese public Sunday on
the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day, whose theme is “Growing Up Without
Tobacco.”

Smith said that although marketing firms projected cigarette-smoking
as a sign of wealth, prestige, charm and even “the American Dream”, the
reality is the opposite.

“Cigarettes are the first cause of preventable premature death
worldwide,” he said, adding that they kill half of the confirmed smokers
who started smoking during their adolescence of whom 50 percent are in
their middle ages.

According to the envoy, 10 million people are expected to die of
smoking-related ailments each year between now and the year 2025. Out of
all these deaths, 70 percent would occur in developing countries.

“If the current rate of smoking continues to rise, 200 million of
today’s children, two thirds of whom are located in developing
countries, will die of tobacco-use related diseases,” Smith said.

He urged the Senegalese public to emulate the measures which have
been taken by the U.S. government “to protect the health of its
citizens, the youth in particular.”

He said the government has felt the heavy impact of tobacco on health
and social costs.

To combat tobacco smoking, the U.S. government has prohibited smoking
in federal buildings, banned the sale of cigarettes to minors and forced
manufactures to indicate on packets the dangers of smoking. It also
controls certain forms of tobacco advertisements.

In Senegal, cigarette companies are among the most active promoters
of sports.

Recent developments on the local sports scene clearly show
that something is terribly wrong with our sports administration.

A few days after the nation is informed of the financial scandal
currently rocking the National Premier Soccer League, we are greeted
with news for the removal of the entire Zimbabwe Rugby Union board-
including its expatriate chief executive, Mark Donato.

And these are not the only problems that have rocked our sport of
late.

There has also been the fight to control not only the Basketball
Union of Zimbabwe, but also the Handball Association of Zimbabwe.

The problems in football have long been there, and so have been the
problems in rugby and other sporting disciplines. Why these problems
have been allowed to reach such levels is another question that needs to
be answered. Where have members of the Sports Commission, and of the
ministry of education, sport, and culture been as the problems went from
bad to worse?

Why it took so long to discover that thousands, if not millions of
dollars were being siphoned from the National Premier Soccer League, is
something that also baffles many.

The answer, however, is simple. The problem lies with the Sports
Commission and the ministry of education, sport and culture itself. The
Sports Commission is powerless and exists only in name. It has been
challenged by individuals, and the NPSL took advantage.

It could not act when members of the Zimbabwe Football Association
refused to implement most of the recommendations of the findings of the
Justice Paddington Garwe commission of enquiry into the management of
football in Zimbabwe.

It could not act when the NPSL refused to hand over the 6% levy
collected from clubs for the commission’s operation.

With such a situation at hand, who then can oversee how sporting
disciplines are operating? Obviously, no-one and the result-
administrative chaos and failure in international competitions.

The minister of education, sport, and culture has too much on his
hands to concentrate on sport, which sadly in Zimbabwe is regarded only

as a form of entertainment.

It should, however, be made loud and clear that sport is big
business, and Zimbabwe has to learn from successful sporting countries
like South Africa, Brazil, and the USA.

We need to begin at the bottom if we are to reach the top. This means
we need to have a smooth running of the sporting disciplines if we are
to achieve success on the international front. In that respect, we need
people who can run the Sports Commission better if the other disciplines
are to be well administered.

Zimbabwe needs a strong Sports Commission to oversee all the problems
in sport. The present team has failed dismally, and should be replaced
by experienced and competent people. And Zimbabwe is not short of them.

A ministry of sport too, divorced from that of education and culture,
has to be created to make sure that the minister does not have too much
in his hands. For a man who has served as one of the country’s most
efficient headmasters for many years, one would have expected minister
Gabriel Machinga to be at the forefront of championing the cause of
sport in government.

Nigeria’s military government has banned
cigarette smoking in hospitals across the country, as part of a national
campaign to stem the dangerous social habit with grave health
implications.

Health Minister Rear Adm. Jubrilla Ayinla said smoking is also banned
in all health ministries in Nigeria.

In a speech to mark Sunday’s World No-Tobacco Day, he said the
measures were preparatory to the promulgation of a legislation outlawing
all forms of tobacco advertisement and promotions.

The World Health Organisation, which has been waging a global anti-
smoking campaign, estimates that “40 percent of heavy smokers aged 35
die before the age of 65,” compared to 15 percent for non-smokers.

It is estimated that there are than one billion smokers worldwide
with more than 800 million of them in developing countries.

Nigeria’s federal health ministry puts the figure of smokers at 4.2
million in a country of more than 104 million people, although medical
experts consider this figure grossly underestimated, because of the
increasing prevalence of the habit, especially among the youth.

Ayinla expressed concern that due to the aggressive anti-smoking
campaigns by the industrialized countries, especially the United States
and Europe, tobacco industries were now focusing more on Africa and
other parts of the developing world to induce new smokers.

He indicted regulatory authorities for collaborating with the
multinational tobacco companies to circumvent legal limitations and
stipulated health warnings by feeding the public with inadequately
censored tobacco advertisements and promotions.

It is not the first time that Nigeria has come up with a seemingly
tough anti-smoking measure, with the previous efforts having little
effect on the smoking habits of the citizenry.

Some eight years ago, a former health minister, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,
announced the prohibition of smoking in public places.

But that campaign was observed more in breach, apparently because the
authorities hinged its success on persuasion rather than sanctions
against offenders.

Consequently, Nigerians have been bombarded everyday with aggressive
advertisements in the press and various broadcast media, including
government-controlled ones, glamourising smoking. These appear with only
a subdued warning that “smoking is dangerous to your health.”

Also, driven by economic gains, tobacco companies go to great lengths
to market their products, including sponsoring of popular programmes,
especially football, which commands a lot of followership in the
country.

Additional security measures will be required to curb the
increase in thefts at Bulawayo’s Khumalo Hockey Stadium-the astro-turf
hockey pitch built for the 1995 All Africa Games.

The KHS, one of the best hockey pitches on the continent, is being
used by the Matabeleland Hockey Board to stage tournaments and
development and training programmes.

According to information at hand, security at the stadium has now
become a serious issue as valuables are going missing whenever there are
competitions that attract a number of clubs.

The Standard has information to the effect that at the recent IPT
competition, not only was a playing kit for one of the clubs stolen, but
also a vehicle.

Apart from this, a picture presented to the Khumalo Hockey Stadium by
the Matabeleland Hockey Board, showing President Robert Mugabe
officially opening the stadium, has also gone missing. It is, however,
still not known whether the picture fell off the wall and was
subsequently removed, or whether it fell prey to the thieves who are an
increasing menace at the ground.

Even stadium equipment installed for the All-Africa Games has
reportedly gone missing, bringing into question whether security
personnel manning the gates are doing enough to ensure optimum security.

It is important that the government, as well as the Sports
Commission-in charge of running stadia-finds other means of making sure
the equipment and valuables used are better protected. Already, the
Matabeleland Hockey Board has in store projects such as: school holiday
camps, mini hockey shows, umpire and teacher training clinics, and
select training camps.

Since some of these programmes involve children, security has to be
intensified so that their security and attire are protected.

Efforts to get a comment either from the Khumalo Hockey Stadium
authorities, or Sports Commission officials, were unsuccessful at the
time of going to press.

The 1998 Dunlop Zimbabwe Challenge Rally will take centre
stage from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, starting and finishing in
Harare.

The rally, the 28th running of the event, is being sponsored by tyre
manufacturing and distributing concern, Dunlop, with the continued
support of Castrol and Toyota, two previous sponsors.

Dunlop have poured in $500 000 as part of their sponsorship for the
event.

The company’s managing director, Dave Matthews, said Dunlop was proud
to be associated with this major event on the local sporting calendar.

“We are delighted to be involved in the rally as the principal
sponsor. We have been pleased with the relationship we have developed
with the organising team, and we are excited about the prospects for
this year’s event which, without doubt, is going to be the biggest and
the best to date,” said Matthews.

Dave McComb, a member of the rally’s organising committee, was
delighted with the continued sponsorship:

“The $500 000 sponsorship from Dunlop and continued involvement by
Toyota and Castrol means we have the resources this year to go even
bigger and better than before,” said McComb.

Acknowledged as one of Africa’s finest motorsport events, and the
premier event on the Zimbabwean calendar, there will be plenty of

novelty on this year’s event, including new routes in the north and
north-west of Harare.

The rally itself will be a special stage rally on private farm roads,
timed to the second, including two super special stages also timed to
the second.

The rally will, once again, permit reconnaissance of the route before
the event. This means that competitors may traverse the route before the
event and make their recommendations on danger points.

This is to avoid accidents as happened in 1995 when Zambia’s Satwant
‘The Flying Sikh’ Singh was involved in accident that automatically
ended his challenge for honours. Comprehensive pace notes and service
notes will also provided to entrants in addition to the normal road
book.

According to McComb, a record entry of local and foreign drivers is
expected, and other countries have already indicated they will take part
in the contest. “Early indications from South Africa and Namibia are
extremely positive, and we shall shortly be doing a push for interest
from Zambia, Kenya, and other African countries,” said McComb.

Of course, with the added incentives on offer, a host of foreign
drivers are obviously going to make the trip to Zimbabwe. With free
accommodation at a Harare five-star hotel for both driver and navigator,
as well as 200 litres of fuel and a cash bonus of $1 000 spending money,
the challenge becomes a ‘must’ for every rally driver in southern and
east Africa.

The championships is also held relatively late in the season. In this
respect, it will provide a fitting end for the year and the ultimate
prize for drivers. With such a situation at hand, top class driving and
competition is expected as the drivers jostle for the lucrative prizes
on offer.

The competition is over 1 195 kilometres.

Ulinzi 1 Breweries 0. Ulinzi Stars kept their Premier
League title hopes alive when they edged Kenya Breweries in a dour match
at the City Stadium yesterday.

The game opened at a cracking pace with Ulinzi piling on the pressure
as time and again Anthony Nderitu, Tom Ogweno and Danstan Nyaudo
penetrated the bottlers’ defence and come close to scoring.

Breweries, after weathering the storm suddenly came into the game and
Joseph Osewe had Ulinzi goalkeeper Francis Onyiso going full stretch to
push his fierce low drive round the corner.

Then came the decisive goal in the 34th minute.

Breweries goalkeeper Victor Waweru parried Steve Mwangi’s shot after
being fed by Ogweno.

Following, Salim Ahmed pounced onto the rebound and crashed the ball
into the net from the edge of the goal-line.

There was no score in a balanced second-half which saw both losing
more scoring chances.

Breweries coach Jacob Mulee introduced Kevin Ateku and George Omondi
in this half for Abubakar Yusuf and Moses Gitau but the changes brought
little life into the fading Breweries side.

Shabana 2 Nzoia 1

Shabana’s new coach, ex-Tanzania national team tactician, Zakaria
Kinanda broke Shabana’s losing streak as the Kisii side defeated Nzoia
2-1 at Gusii Stadium adds Peter Angwenyi.

Kinanda took over just two days ago from Congolese coach Paul Tshimbi
just as Shabana suffered a series of consecutive losses both home and
away, the latest being the 3-0 thrashing by Gor Mahia in Kisii last
weekend.

Shabana scored through sensational Sammy Okoth and Bernard Ongeri

while Nzoia replied through former Shabana forward Peter Makoyoko.

Chemelil 1 Reli 2

Chemelil Sugar’s woes in the Premier League continued yesterday when
they fell 2-1 to Reil in a tough match before a packed Chemelil Sports
complex writes Jammes Awino.

After a scoreless first-half, Reli took a 62nd-minute lead through
Hezron Omondi who received a pass from Elijah Otieno.

But Chemelil, making a strong counter-attack, equalised through a
penalty in the 70th minute through substitute Mike Obonyo after a
defender had handled in the box.

Determined to carry the day, the visitors went ahead in the 79th
minute when Edward Agunda made no mistake from a close-range shot.

After the match irate Chemelil fans demanded the dismissal of the
entire club executive.

Eldoret KCC 2 Re-Union 0

Eldoret KCC hit Re-Union 2-0 in another game at the Kip Keino Stadium
in Eldoret.

Sammy Simiyu and Franklin Obare scored the goal for the Eldoret side.

Oserian 0 Green Berets 0

Oserian and Green Berets settled for a goalless draw at Naivasha.

The match between Mafuko Bombers and Sony scheduled for yesterday
will now be played today at the Moi Kinoru Stadium in Embu, Mafuko
Bombers official Sailen Patel confirmed yesterday.

Brooke Bond 5 All Stars 0

Brooke Bond hammered hapless Kisumu All Stars 5-0 in a one-sided
Western Zone Super League match at Kericho’s Green Stadium yesterday
writes Sollo Kiragu.

The star of the match was Brooke Bond striker Douglas Mutua who
netted a hat-trick.

Joseph Okoi started the rout spree for the home team in the sixth
minute. Mutua added a second in the 18th minute. Vincent Nyamboga and
Mutua netted two more. Mutua was on the mark again in the second half to
complete the rout.

Soccer fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the
manner in which the Zimbabwe Football Association is handling the
national team when it comes to the appointment of national coaches.

Many fans are of the opinion that Amazulu’s coach, Roy Barreto, has
done more than enough to be appointed national coach, and are surprised
to hear of the possible appointment of Clive Barker as the Zimbabwean
coach.

Some followers questioned Zifa’s logic in interviewing Barker when
the team is doing well under the guidance of Barreto.

This, they say, makes the coach uncomfortable in his position.
Barreto has guided Zimbabwe to two straight wins against Namibia and
Mozambique, scoring seven goals against two.

“How does Barreto feel to be told that someone else is waiting to
take over his job?” asked Norman Makondo, a staunch Dynamos supporter.

Makondo said there was so much confusion in Zifa that those in charge
did not know what they were doing. “Grobbelaar did well and they
relieved him of his job. They then re-engaged him, only to say they did
not have money to pay him. So where will the money to pay Barker come
from?” asked Makondo.

Another fan, Tichaona Gava, also believes Barker needs support from
both the public and the administrators if Zimbabwe is to achieve success
on the international front.

“A coach is judged by results, and Barreto so far has the results.
Barker is a failure and we don’t need him here,” said Gava.

“Why Zifa is insisting on a foreign coach is something else. Many
from outside our borders were given the chance and failed. Coaches like
Rudi Gutendorf, Wieslaw Grabowski, and Ben Koufie, amongst others,
handled the team and failed to take it to the World Cup and, worse
still, to the African Cup of Nations finals where weak footballing
nations like Namibia have made an appearance.”

A political dynasty devoid of political maturity and
economic reason, which was in existence in Zimbabwe for the last decade,
may be seeing the last days of its existence.

Zimbabwe, once a nation of plenty, has had its resources depleted due
to greed and economic mismanagement.

The writing is on the wall! Zimbabwe’s leadership is now alienated
and estranged due to the fact that they’ve towed monopolistic politics
which have in turn accounted for their credibility and ability to run
national issues. What the leadership wants are those ‘lovers’ niceties’
which would give them a false sense of security in the economic and
political management of the country.

Political commentators prophesied that Zimbabwe would witness social,
economic, and political upheavals due to the inception of the Economic
Structural Adjustment Programme (Esap) in the late 80s. Needless to say,
the political giants of this country labelled them ‘prophets of doom’
whose alignment with their capitalist masters entrenched them into the
dreaded world of pragmatists.

To say that Zimbabwe was effectively run by a government of 16

Rhodesians for two decades under the guidance of the ‘The Great
Betrayer’, Ian Douglas Smith, would make me quite unpopular with the
Zanu PF cronies. But to the Rhodesians’ credit, economic management was
an envy of the entire African continent, though racism was at its
optimum. There was no need for groupings like the National Economic
Consultative Forum to discuss economic issues, because the economy of
the nation then was sound.

It is true that the RF had a stinking racist policy towards its black
counter- parts, the overtones of which still exist up to now, but
education was accessible, the health sector was not devoid of essential
drugs, which unfortunately seems to be spelling doom for the
impoverished Zimbabweans who cannot afford even a pain killer from the
government chemist today.

Where to Zimbabwe, with workers 25% poorer than they were only 18
years ago?

To keep harping on the fact that the cause of the war of liberation
was land, without putting into place corrective measures thereto, is an
insult of the nation’s intelligence. At Lancaster in 1979, the
emotionally charged leaders we have today were there and they agreed
with the Queen’s negotiators that they would look at the land question
10 years down the line. Why do they want to portray to the people that
they are so incensed about the land issue now than they were soon after
the war?

Was it part of the deal at Lancaster that as soon as the Lancaster
constitution expired, President Mugabe and his cabinet should revert to
coercive means of obtaining land? I think that is why there has been so
much resistance to the much-fancied land acquisition programme. The fact
is that it is doubtful whether the programme would benefit the entire
population, given the leadership’s record of amassing wealth for
themselves.

Political patronage is now at its worst. It has become a way of life
for the entire cabinet, whose diligence to the party is more for gain
than for nation building. The government’s tender system is down on its
knees.

Issues of financial mismanagement are prevalent in the Zanu PF-led
oligarchy, and continued loss of national priorities remains thawing.
The Zimbabwean population is educated enough to know what is good and
bad for them. Heated arguments, demonstrations, and stayaways, and
resistance calls that have dominated the political arena of the nation
today, are a result of national discontentment.

While the ZCTU might cherish its own political ideals, issues of
bread and butter that concern the workers are not to be classified as
such. One can talk politics if they are full and not hungry, as is the
case with the Zimbabwean workforce now.

For the past 18 years, workers have watched the top brass of our
country gobble national resources. They have, however, realised that
they also need a share of the cake as their families are languishing in
dire straits of poverty.

Interestingly, the fission that has since developed in the mighty
Zanu PF-a section of the leadership of who are calling upon the
incumbent president to go- makes the political scenario spectacular. But
look at a new culture of ‘re-affirmation of loyalty’ that is doing
rounds in the provinces.

Special mention though is the affirmation by the war veterans’
leader, Dr Chenjerai ‘Hitler’ Hunzvi, who has threatened to take over
the youth-wing of the party for the purposes of protecting our
president. Effectively, he implied that the current youth leader, Josiah
Tungamirai, was not effective and equal to the task.

Analysts have noted, however, that the utterances of Dzikamai
Mavhaire and support given to him by those from Masvingo and
Matabeleland, are just but a lead to serious undercurrents that are
affecting the leadership.

The pandora box is slowly being opened, but the objective is crystal
clear: His Highness has fallen out of favour even from among his flock.

It is also sad to note that when government allies lose tenders, the

cabinet can sit and create opportunities for them.

The YTL/Zesa deal, the airport deal, and various other tenders for
construction and supply have often been awarded to cabinet ministers,
companies owned by their relatives’ companies while those not connected
high up continue to lick the wounds of neglect.

“Neptune with a trident and the trident is in our hands”, is the
message which Zanu PF has distributed live and clear to the entire
nation and the world. Those who do not pander to the whims of the
leadership will continue languishing in poverty, while the gravy train
remains for those who boot-lick or hero worship.

As stated by ZCTU’s boss, Morgan Tsvangirai in an interview recently,
a tripartite social contract existed between government, the people, and
the union. In essence, there is need for these bodies to consult each
other and come up with amicable solutions in the interest of the nation.
Contrary to that, the government has turned out to be a bully and resort
to using coercion in dealing with matters of the cost of labour and
production in the country.

Said Professor Lloyd Sachikonye in a recent commentary: “Because of
the push for better economic and constitutional governance, the ZCTU has
been viewed as representing a counter-hegemonic force bent on creating
political confusion in Zimbabwe. But in the context of low economic
growth and tarnished governance, the ZCTU’s visible role in articulating
a social contract in the economic arena is merely to have the lives of
Zimbabweans improved.

This is the reason why the prospect of ZCTU dabbling in politics is
so disconcerting to the Zanu PF government.”

As Zimbabweans witnessed the crumbling of the billion-dollar
business empire of Harare business tycoon, Roger Boka, focus soon
shifted to whether there were any rich blacks left, after the ailing 52-
year old tycoon.

“Boka is just one among thousands of indigenous businessmen whose
empires have collapsed,” says the minister of state for enterprises,
Cephas Msipa.

He sees the fall of Boka as presenting a serious challenge to other
black entrepreneurs.

“There are many blacks who are doing very well-Boka was high profile,
but many more are succeeding quietly.”

He gave the example of farmer Tobias Musariri, who holds the local
Bedford vehicles franchise, and Paddy Zhanda, owner of Shingai Business
Machines.

Among other black-run businesses doing well, he said, were National
Merchant Bank, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ), and Kingdom
Securities, a Harare-based finance house.

Preliminary CBZ figures published in March this year showed profit
before tax at Z$108,7 million-up 29% over the 1996 figure of Z$ 84
million.

Boka, seen by many as a role model for black Zimbabwean business
persons, send shivers down the spines of those in the banking sector,
following the crash of his United Merchant Bank (UMB).

The bank’s collapse, which has been widely attributed to poor lending
policies, has cast grave doubts on the ability of the indigenisation
programme to economically empower black Zimbabweans in the future.

As a result, Boka, his senior managers, as well as his plethora of
companies which include the Z$200 million Boka Tobacco Auction Floors-
which he says is the largest in the world-were specified by the
government.

Ona Jirira, of the Institute of Development Studies, when trying to
draw parallels between viable indigenous enterprises, could only compare
UMB unfavourably with the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe.

“Is the CBZ not successful? We should look at what is within its
system that is making it successful,” said Jirira, who went on to
attribute Boka’s fall to financial constraints, which she asserted could
have been engineered by the ‘pull-him-down’ mentality prevalent among
blacks.

However, as our liberalised economy becomes intensely competitive,
she says: “It’s those who know the markets who will survive. But the
fall of Boka is a lesson that Zimbabwe should learn from. It must not be
seen as representing the failure of blacks in general.”

Although the fall of Boka’s bank is being seen by independent
observers as a severe blow to the economic indigenisation process, some
analysts are viewing the whole fiasco as a “blessing in disguise”.

“This incident will strengthen indigenisation,” CBZ boss, Gideon

Gono, told a recent meeting called to review the effects of UMB’s
dramatic fall.

“We were content before with stabbing each other in the back, but we
must now rise above our individual positions and look at indigenisation
as a national perspective.”

Msipa warns that blacks should refrain from rushing into business,
without the requisite back-up managerial skills.

“This is why there is such a high rate of failure,” he said. ‘There
are many Zimbabwean businesses folding up, and the question should be:
‘What do we do about it?’ rather than for us to view this individual
case of Boka as indicating the failure of black businesses in general.

“To me, what is more serious and shattering is when a business falls
and its owner is left with nothing. At least Boka still has a house. The
question is: what should be done about those who become homeless?”

Msipa says government would like to see more black Zimbabwean con-
sortiums being set up because it has been proved that those who come
together, become successful.

There is also need for would-be business people to strengthen their
entrepreneurial skills and to clearly understand that the current macro-
economic environment is unfavourable to success, due to the prevailing
high interest and inflation rates.

Indigenous Business Development Centre president, Ben Mucheche,
supports government moves to rescue Boka.

Mucheche says that what people should know is that Boka’s case is not
an unusual one as many big businesses have, in the past, collapsed, and
some were only rescued through state finance, such as Cone Textiles.

Nigel Chanakira, managing director of Kingdom Securities-who has
ambitions to start his own merchant bank-believes that there are just as
many competent blacks as there are whites.

“But once problems start being interpreted along racial lines, I say
’shame’. People should be judged on competence and not on colour.”

According to Msipa, the indigenisation programme is still on course,
with the programme of action recently launched by government expected to
be implemented in two months time.

The programme of action involves examining legislation that impedes
the indigenisation process with a view to amending or repealing it.

Against this background, Msipa cautioned that it was still too early
to dismiss the black economic empowerment thrust as utopian, adding that
the drive was a process and not an event, and was therefore bound to
take time.

However, it remains to be seen whether any lessons were indeed drawn
from the collapse of Boka’s UMB, as more blacks aspire to enter the
competitive, high stakes corporate business world.-Ziana.

Zimbabwean wildlife history was made this week, when a
female black rhino was tracked and darted from the back of an African
elephant. She was one of two black rhinos that were to be returned to
the wild. Imire Game Ranch, 32km from Marondera, was the setting for
this remarkable game capture exercise on Friday.

Imire was one of the first areas of farming land to be set aside many
years ago for the provision of a promising development in tourism: game
viewing within easy reach of a major urban centre.

However, the game ranch became involved with species survival during
the tragic decline of the black rhino population in the Zambezi Valley
due to poaching in the late 80s and early 90s. The policy of

translocating surviving animals, and particularly the orphans of poached
adults, became a National Parks priority at this time.

Imire, the family farm of Norman Travers, with its commitment to the
preservation of indigenous wildlife, was one location that was, in 1987,
entrusted with the care of orphan calves-four females and three males.

Their success has been remarkable, and has been mirrored in other
locations across the country.

Over the past 11 years, these seven animals have been been brought to
maturity-a painstaking process of bottlefeeding, then weaning on to a
diet of natural browse and supplements. They have also produced six
calves.

One, unfortunately, drowned; but three were translocated to the
National Parks ‘nursery’ at Tashinga, where a final period of weaning
and introduction to the wild has resulted in their final release into
the Matusadona National Park at the age of about two years.

The remaining two calves are still at Imire, one is still with its
mother, while the other is being weaned in a special boma.

It has been National Parks’ policy to retain the adult breeding
groups in their various protected environments around the country, while
partially weaned youngsters are translocated to protected situations
within intensive protection zones. This makes translocation easier and
the final return to the wild more direct.

Imire had conformed to this policy, but found that one female, known
as Cuckoo, was developing a decidedly individual turn of mind. She is a
prolific mother, having given birth to three calves and being pregnant
at present, but since Imire’s principal activity is tourism, there is a
risk to visitors.

In consultation with National Parks, it was decided to move Cuckoo,
and an adult male, Fumbi, directly to Matusadona National Park, on the
shores of Lake Kariba. This is one of four intensive protection zones,
where there is constant patrolling and monitoring of animal numbers.

Last Friday’s operation at Imire was a joint exercise with the
Department of Veterinary Services and the Department of National Parks
and Wild Life Management.

Dr Chris Foggin, an experienced wildlife veterinarian, was
responsible for the darting, tranquillisation, and revival of the two
selected rhinos, while National Parks personnel loaded and transported
the animals to Matusadona.

The darting and loading of Fumbi was considered to be reasonably
straightforward, as he was in the habit of visiting the Imire boma area
each day. Cuckoo, however, took full advantage of the extensive Imire
property, and would have to be found.

This is where another innovative initiative by Norman Travers and his
family was exploited.

The game ranch has patiently developed the use of African elephants
to transport visitors on game-viewing rides. The many species of animals
on the ranch have come to regard these elephants as part of the natural
scene, despite the fact that humans were riding on them. So Dr Foggin
and the National Parks team availed themselves of this unusual form of
transport to venture out and find Cuckoo.

Within just over an hour, they had found her. She made history as the
first rhino to be darted from a veterinarian from the back of an
elephant.

The first dart failed to function, but the second hit home, and the
plunger sent a stiff dose of tranquilliser into Cuckoo’s system. She
didn’t seem to be unduly upset, and within a few minutes her legs
started to weaken, and six or seven minutes later, she sank gracefully
to the ground.

Dr Foggin then made a series of medical checks to ensure Cuckoo was
not in any danger. Then a radio collar was fitted to allow her position
to be constantly tracked at her new home.

The National Parks lorry was radioed and soon arrived with a
substantial crate, in which Cuckoo would travel to Kariba. Cuckoo was
revived and, while still groggy, manhandled into the crate, which was
closed and winched up a ramp on to the lorry within minutes. The rhino

was not stressed nor harassed, in what was a remarkable handling of over
a tonne of potentially furious female.

Fumbi, by contrast, was a much simpler operation, although he did
cause some alarm when he caught his horn in the boma railings while his
legs were weakening after the darting. All went well, however, and he
was soon in another crate and loaded on to the lorry with Cuckoo, before
starting the 15-hour journey to Matusadona National Park.

The journey to return Zimbabwe’s black rhino population to its high
of 2 500 in 1985, from a low of 270 in 1993, will be a long one, but
present estimates of 340 nationwide indicate that the recovery policy is
working.

The contribution made by people such as the Travers of Imire was
commended by Nicholas Duncan, president of Save Foundation of Australia,
who watched the operation on Friday. His organisation has donated $12
million to wildlife projects in Zimbabwe over the past 11 years,
principally to National Parks, but also to projects such as the Imire
rhino breeding programme.