THURSDAY, 3.30PM
THE Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species summit in Harare on Thursday approved a compromise proposal on the lifting of the worldwide ban on the ivory trade to allow Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to sell their ivory stockpiles to Japan under tightly controlled conditions.
After an earlier vote on the proposal was defeated by just three votes, delegates broke into wild jubilation when the required two thirds majority was easily obtained in Thursday’s vote.
In terms of the compromise proposal passed on Thursday, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe will be able to export a combined total of 59 tons of ivory to Japan in early 1999 at the earliest, subject to the parties establishing watertight controls to ensure that no illegal ivory is laundered through lawful sales.
Voting was by secret ballot. It is believed the vote turned in favour of the Southern African countries when the European Union delegates, who had previously voted against any reopening of the ivory trade, abstained from the final vote.