Tourism KZN hopes to sway Swaziland from legalising trade in rhino horn

Tourism KZN's Bongani Mthiyane made the comment at Tourism Indaba, which wrapped up at the Durban ICC yesterday. 

Mthiyane says even though Swaziland is a member of the East3Route cross-border development pact, they have no direct impact on the Kingdom's decision making.  

South Africa recently announced it will not legalise the trade of rhino horn.  

Swaziland will table a proposal in September when the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora meets to legalise the trade.  

Mthiyane hopes their approach can be changed. 

"The stronger relationships that we have with our neighbouring countries such as Swaziland and Mozambique actually makes it better for us to have a conversation around such issues. That is why I think the relationship that we have is actually going to bring up positive results in that area of rhino poaching," he said. 

(File photo)