It may happen. Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has said that Palmer should be extradited to Zimbabwe to face charges. She’s angry.
As the Obama administration has received a 140,000 petition from American citizens requesting that Palmer is extradited to Zimbabwe, there appears to be nothing in the way of it happening unless someone in the US government can foresee something going horrible wrong and blocks it.
And there lies the problem. America and Zimbabwe don’t have the best of relationships. No one has been extradited from the US to Zimbabwe for 35 years. It may be unrealistic to believe that this may happen but it does open up the possibility and talks may start.
The Environment Minister said he should be brought to Zimbabwe so that he can be held accountable for his illegal action. Good. That makes a lot of sense. Palmer committed a crime and he deserves to be tried in a Zimbabwean criminal court and if convicted sentenced.
Ms Muchinguri has described Walter Palmer as a “foreign poacher!”
“As we frantically try to protect our wildlife from organised gangs such as this one, there are people…who connive to undermine Zimbabwean laws”
“One can conclude with confidence that Dr Palmer, being an American citizen, had a well-orchestrated agenda which would tarnish the image of Zimbabwe and further strain the relationship between Zimbabwe and the USA,” Ms Muchinguri added.
“The illegal killing was deliberate…..We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he can be held accountable for his illegal actions.” Ms Muchinguri added further.
In addition to the illegal killing of Cecil the famous lion, the use of a bow and arrow was a breach of the local hunting regulations.
Obama has expressed his faith in the African continent on his recent visit to Kenya. Although, as it happens, in Kenya there is mass corruption! Obama should release Palmer to the African continent to face justice – if he can find him! He might receive a lengthy sentence which would please millions of people.
Absolutely yes. There is a silver lining. The trouble as always is that humans have a short memory for distasteful behaviors and events. Within 6 months it will be history and the canned lion businesses and trophy hunting agents will be as active as ever, I fear.
I’m pleased this story has caused furore worldwide, because if nothing else, it’s focused attention on trophy hunting and the despicable humans who kill animals for pleasure.