Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04HARARE1496
2004-09-02 06:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

WHERE "SAVE" GOES, WILDLIFE WILL FOLLOW

Tags:  SENV EINV ECON PGOV EAID ZI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001496 

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR BNEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVELLE, D. TEITELBAUM
USDOC FOR AMANDA HILLIGAS, TREASURY FOR OREN WYCHE-SHAW,
PASS USTR FOR FLORIZELLE LISER, STATE PASS USAID FOR
MARJORIE COPSON, STATE PASS USDOI/FWS FOR RICHARD RUGGIERO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2009
TAGS: SENV EINV ECON PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: WHERE "SAVE" GOES, WILDLIFE WILL FOLLOW

Classified By: [Ambassador Christopher W. Dell for reason 1.5 d]

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001496

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR BNEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVELLE, D. TEITELBAUM
USDOC FOR AMANDA HILLIGAS, TREASURY FOR OREN WYCHE-SHAW,
PASS USTR FOR FLORIZELLE LISER, STATE PASS USAID FOR
MARJORIE COPSON, STATE PASS USDOI/FWS FOR RICHARD RUGGIERO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2009
TAGS: SENV EINV ECON PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: WHERE "SAVE" GOES, WILDLIFE WILL FOLLOW

Classified By: [Ambassador Christopher W. Dell for reason 1.5 d]


1. (SBU) Summary: After a decade of rescuing endangered
species, Save Valley Conservancy, the largest private
wildlife reserve in Africa, may now be facing its own
extinction. Land reform has encroached upon the country,s
vast wildlife lands, including those of the Conservancy.
GOZ,s decisions on Save will have a significant effect on
the future of wildlife and tourism in Zimbabwe. End Summary.

BACKGROUND
--------------

2. (SBU) Founded in 1992, Save Valley Conservancy (SVC)
encompasses 3,420 square kilometers in southeastern Zimbabwe.
Fourteen separate property owners from Zimbabwe, the U.S.,
Germany, Italy, and South Africa have established a
conservancy constitution and administration. SVC has
successfully bred many endangered species.


3. (SBU) The GOZ has redistributed land to small-scale
farmers in the southern portion of SVC, encroaching on the
Conservancy and encircling HAMMOND Ranch, owned by an
American investor, the Schenck family. The GOZ has also
threatened nationalization of the whole conservancy, which
would then be leased out for 25-year terms for wildlife
resource management. This is an untenable business model for
the present owners. The GOZ has listed and de-listed HAMMOND
Ranch for acquisition on several occasions.

ATTEMPTED NEGOTIATIONS
--------------

4. (SBU) SVC,s manager, Clive Stockil, has engaged with the
GOZ to seek an agreement on how to achieve both SVC,s
wildlife protection and GOZ,s indigenization objectives.


5. (SBU) According to Stockil and the Schencks, SVC
negotiated an indigenization plan with Special Affairs
Minister John Nkomo. Nkomo introduced Stockil to a
black-owned firm, Traditions. SVC was to include Traditions
as minority partner in exchange for additional land from GOZ
and some asset investment. The fourteen original owners were
to retain their properties but a diminished stake in the
incorporated conservancy. The GOZ would remove- and no longer
resettle- A1 farmers in SVC.


6. (SBU) Weldon Schenck stated the MOU was ready for
signature when the GOZ changed its mind. The GOZ informed
Stockil that SVC was now to negotiate with another group from
Masvingo (where SVC is located). This new group includes
Chief Chirumbira and a nephew of Josaya Hungwe, Masvingo,s
hardline Zanu-PF governor.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
--------------

7. (C) According to Schenck, Chirumbira and his colleagues
want aggressive nationalization, with SVC to give up 100
percent ownership of all interests (businesses, land, etc.)
now and to lease back 50 percent for a 25-year period. If
GOZ insists on such a proposal, Schenck and others would
simply pull out of Zimbabwe. Schenck said the SVC would not
agree to such a proposal and is instead playing for time,
hoping the political winds will change.


8. (SBU) Schenck and others have asked diplomatic missions
with interests in SVC to attend meetings with GOZ officials
and make commitments regarding possible donor assistance upon
reaching a viable negotiated settlement. While U.S. policy
precludes holding out assistance as a carrot for the GOZ, we
have been working closely with other interested missions. We
have agreed to meet and compare notes every two months.

COMMENT
--------------

9. (SBU) SVC is now a threatened species, bordering on
endangered. If the GOZ insists on the current proposal,
Zimbabwe,s participation in a future Transfrontier Park with
Mozambique and South Africa will become unlikely. SVC is a
large chunk of Zimbabwe,s contribution to this ambitious
plan to protect endangered species.
Dell