Wild animals, including elephants, are to be slaughtered and served at Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s birthday party later this month, according to media reports, angering conservationists who branded the plans unethical.
The lavish celebration for Mugabe’s 91st are planned for Feb. 28 on a championship golf course at the Elephant Hills Resort, a luxury hotel at Victoria Falls. An estimated 20,000 people are expected to attend.
Villagers said the animals were part of their annual hunting quota and donating them meant no income for the year
Farmer Tendai Musasa has pledged to donate two elephants, two buffalo, two sables, five impalas and a lion worth a combined ￡78,000 (US$119,700) toward the jamboree, Zimbabwe’s Chronicle newspaper reported.
“This is our way of supporting the function and to ensure a celebratory mood in our community as well,” Musasa was quoted as saying. “The total value is US$120,000. This reflects the money we get annually and we thought this would be a perfect gesture.”
“At the moment we are making arrangements with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to slaughter these animals a few days before the day. We are also liaising with the hotel that will keep the meat,” he said.
Activists have condemned the donations.
“I am not in favor of anyone donating wild animals for a celebration or for any other reason,” Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force chair Johnny Rodrigues said. “They have been doing this for years now. Every time there is a celebration or on Independence Day, several elephants and buffalo are killed for the celebrations. This is totally unethical and should not be allowed.”
The gift has also dismayed the community near Musasa’s farm outside Victoria Falls following a wrangle over land ownership, according to the Chronicle.
“Villagers said the animals involved were part of their annual hunting quota and donating them meant no income for the whole year. They said they were powerless because challenging the donation could be misinterpreted” as not wanting to participate in the celebrations, the paper said.
Mugabe turns 91 on Saturday.
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