HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Tens of thousands of wild animals face annihilation in a wave of land takeovers in southeastern Zimbabwe by politicians of President Robert Mugabe’s party, a consortium of wildlife ranchers charged Sunday.

The Save Valley Conservancy said thousands of people’s livelihoods also are threatened in the 1,000 square mile (2,600 square kilometer) nature preserve and surrounding districts after hunting permits and land leases were granted to 25 leaders of the ZANU-PF party under a black empowerment program.

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