By A Corresponded- Zimbabwe is sitting on an ivory stockpile of one hundred and thirty tonnes, and losing millions of dollars as it fails to sell the ivory owing to sanctions imposed on Harare by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The state media reports that because of this ban revenue to support conservation programmes was depleting.

“We have 130 tonnes of ivory locked up while there are also two thousand rhino horns that we cannot sell because of the ban effected through Cites. Our revenues are severely affected and this obviously will impact on our abilities to conduct conservation programmes,” Dr Fulton Mangwanya, Director-General Zimparks told the state media.

The sanctions were imposed after serious corruption was reported within the management of rhinos and elephants by the ruling party.