No UAE elephant plot

The tourism and environment ministry has dismissed allegations that there was a plot between the UAE and Namibia to create the supply for the exportation of 22 elephants recently.The elephants were exported to two zoos in the UAE after Namibia auctioned 170 elephants in 2020, of which it managed to sell 57 to three separate bidders.However, it has emerged that Gerrie Odendaal, who bought the 22 elephants, was only a middleman in the sale, with several other players behind the scenes pulling the strings to make the sale possible.It is alleged that one of the zoos for which the elephants were bought was under construction in 2014 already with an elephant enclosure planned. It was therefore already known then that there would be a demand for these elephants.Confronted by the fact that Namibia had been approached to find a way to supply these elephants, Muyunda said there was no plot.“There was no plot with the UAE to have the demand of elephants met and us being the suppliers. There is no such thing. There was also no engagement between the UAE government and the Namibian government before the tender.”He stressed that if there was such a need they would not have gone through a public tender.“Remember we put on that tender 170 elephants and so far, we only got 57 successfully auctioned. So, we did not really achieve the goal that we wanted to achieve. Therefore, if we had already engaged the UAE the numbers would collaborate it at only 22.”EvidenceHe also stressed that the export to the UAE was done in a private capacity, and if there is any evidence that points to corruption, that evidence should be submitted to institutions that deal with such incidents.“Because this is not something government would sanction, staff members and individuals that pocket from such transactions. If there is any evidence to that, it should be brought to the authorities. As far as we are concerned, it was a legitimate tender that went out and called for people who were interested to bid.”Muyunda added that they would have preferred for Namibians with elephant rangeland to buy the elephants, but unfortunately the bids received were from Namibians who wanted to export them.Muyunda also said that the export of elephants to zoos in the UAE will not impact tourists wanting to come to Namibia.He says what sets Namibia apart is that the country’s safaris are natural, with wide open spaces.“If you are in a safari in Africa, the chance to see wild animals is not guaranteed. So that is the selling point. And in terms of tourism Namibia has a lot to offer as our elephants are diverse.”

No UAE elephant plot

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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No UAE elephant plot

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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