Africa-Press – South-Africa. Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy has called for a renewed fight against rhino poaching, following the murder of game ranger Anton Mzimba.
In a video message on Friday, Creecy said the department’s Green Scorpions Unit was ready to help police in their search for Mzimba’s murderers.
Mzimba, the head of ranger services at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, was gunned down at his home near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga on Tuesday night.
News24 previously reported that gunmen shot Mzimba’s screaming wife in the stomach after she saw them shooting her husband.
Manhunt for 3 men who shot, killed ranger Anton Mzimba and wounded wife
Police said the motive for the shooting was under investigation.
Creecy said she met Mzimba a month ago during a visit to the area to meet with the Association of Private Nature Reserves.
She said:
Mzimba had 24 years of experience as a field ranger. He received the Field Ranger of the Year Award in 2016.
Creecy said his murder, which took place a few days ahead of World Ranger Day, highlighted the “dangers rangers face in protecting the country’s wildlife on a daily basis”.
She added that rangers in private game reserves were increasingly at risk of violence linked to poaching, and that the department noted that there was a trend towards more rhino poaching in private reserves.
“Rangers are [in] the front line of anti-poaching efforts,” Creecy said.
“We urge all who are concerned about rhino poaching and the toll it is taking on our rangers to reach out with concrete offers of help. Our duty is to pick up Ranger Mzimba’s fallen spear and continue the battle in his name.”
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