Illegal Land Seizures and Arnold Payne

Wayne, I have no idea when that trip occurred but I think once word truly gets out about the problems in the Save people will not visit them. I mean, can you honestly see these unscrupulous "indigenous" outfitters showing up in Reno or Dallas?

Tom, they would be arrested in the USA. Most are on a banned list of some sort in all likely hood.

Those guys never show up. It is the front men selling for them who show up or on the internet, etc.

or sell you a hunt on a legal farm close by and then drive you over to the "new concession we just sewed up the other day!"

That is how people get taken and misdirected into poaching and the shady folks manage to get you hunting with them.


The date on the SCI newsletter was 2011.

Another illustration of why you had better not assume SCI does any screening for you.
 
Any news out of the Save?
 
I did finally read a news clip that the park personnel are worried about the land grab and take over with poachers/settlers. and the destruction to the endangered species, white and black rhino, elephant, cape buffalo, lions and list go on... they talked about hunting franchise being canceled and taken away, land take over by the black cronies of the in power government.

The news clip also indicated that white operators (49%) had to take on black partners (51%) and when resistance was met they were being removed... government indicated that this was a part of the land reform process. Seeing as the government holds all land titles the white farmer - ranchers are being forced to give there property away to try and keep a little of it...
 
Here is a positional statement from the conservancy from a few days ago.

http://savevalleyconservancy.o...ment-20-august-2012/

Save Valley Conservancy Positional Statement 20 August 2012
On 08.21.12, In Uncategorized, by admin

Members of the Save Valley Conservancy have recently become aware of statements that have been made by members of the press with regards to the application of the indigenisation process within the conservancy. Accordingly the Save Valley Conservancy would like to offer the following statement in order to clarify some erroneous perceptions:

The Save Valley Conservancy was formed 11 years after independence in 1991 with the approval of the Zimbabwe Government, National Parks, assisted by WWF and Beit Trust. Opportunities to invest were open to all and in fact the Zimbabwean government took the opportunity through Arda.

An IFC Loan, approved and supported by Government, was negotiated in order to purchase wildlife as a severe drought meant that there were no cattle or animals left in the area. It is only through the huge investment made possible by this loan that there is any wildlife in the Save Valley Conservancy today.
Most importantly: The Save Valley Conservancy and its members are not now and have never been opposed to a viable indigenisation plan and nor has there been a lack of engagement on their part.

The Save Valley Conservancy has long held the view that indigenisation should take the form of community involvement and benefit and to this end formed and finalised the Save Valley Conservancy Community Trust, incorporating five neighbouring Rural District Councils. This was achieved between 1996 and 1998; pre-dating the current indigenisation act by some years.

More recently the Save Valley Conservancy has engaged with the Ministry of Environment and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority over a period of three years between 2006 and 2009 with plans to bring increased benefit to neighbouring communities as well as to increase indigenous shareholding in the Save Valley Conservancy. Requested documentation has been supplied by the Conservancy to the Ministry on many occasions without any formal or directional feedback being supplied by either Ministry of Environment or National Parks.

At the beginning of 2011 members of the Conservancy agreed to consider additional indigenisation possibilities through investment. A steering committee comprised of members of would be investors and members of the Save Valley Conservancy was formed to guide the legal, accounting and business processes that would be necessary to ensure smooth transactions. This process ran aground in July 2011 when would be partners stated they had no intention of investing but wanted ç”°ash on the table?

It is the now the unfortunate position that hunting safaris throughout the Conservancy have been cancelled by the authorities, depriving members of the Save Valley Conservancy of vital income. More seriously members have since become aware that hunting quotas for properties in the Conservancy have since been issued to the would be partners from Masvingo who were mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Despite the current impasse and the graveness of the situation the Save Valley Conservancy and its members remain committed to proactively seeking realistic and viable solutions to the situation. We hasten to offer assurances that at this time it is quite safe to visit the Conservancy and urge non hunting clients not to cancel their trips. We remain confident that the laws of Zimbabwe will be respected and maintained and thank you all for your concern during this time.
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...ee49d8d67_story.html



Zimbabwe wildlife group says politicians threaten nature preserve with hunting licenses

By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, August 24, 1:20 PMAP


HARARE, Zimbabwe A new wave of land takeovers and hunting licenses granted to loyalists of President Robert Mugabe is threatening a massive wildlife preserve in southeastern Zimbabwe, a consortium of wildlife ranchers charged Friday.

The Save Valley Conservancy group said the takeovers, labeled as black empowerment, benefitted 殿 few greedy individuals who care only for what they can take for themselves with no interest in protecting an array of endangered wildlife including the rhinoceros



The conservancy of about 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers) is unsuitable for anything but wildlife tourism, the group said.

It said two thirds of its small-scale wildlife ranch operators are already black Zimbabweans, but land and hunting concessions given to 25 ç”°onnected political individuals are set to destabilize the region's whole ecosystem.

Save (pronounced Sa-veh) is named after the river running through it, is the habitat with an abundance of elephant, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and eland, as well as the nation's second largest population of black rhino and most species African lowland animals and birds. The conservancy runs breeding programs, internationally recognized research on rare mottled or èŸainted wild dogs and photographic and hunting trips.

The group said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday that its own commercial hunting licenses were cancelled, depriving them of much needed income, while leading politicians of Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in the southern Masvingo province, who had no past relationship with conservancy members were æœiraculously allocated land and hunting licenses last month.

They include Mugabe's minister of higher education Stan Mudenge, provincial governor Titus Maluleke and a ZANU -PF militant and former lawmaker, Mrs. Shuvai Mahofa. The conservancy said she is officially listed as having received nine farms under the often violent seizures of white owned farms that began in 2000 and has ignored two court orders to vacate a property she has occupied illegally on the conservancy.

Witnesses said at Mudenge's recent remarriage, guests feasted largely on the game meat of wild animals.

Maluleke, however, has accused white wildlife ranchers of resisting what is termed a wildlife-based land reform program that calls on them to go into partnership with blacks in wildlife and animal husbandry projects. No further comment was immediately available from Mugabe's party.

Mugabe insists the land takeovers are to correct colonial era imbalances in farm ownership that gave whites most prime land. But critics say many of the best farms have gone to Mugabe cronies since 2000 and still lie idle.

The Save Conservancy was founded in 1991 and has drawn support from the World Wildlife Fund and investors from Europe and United States who are protected under bilateral investment agreements with the countries involved.

The group said Friday its breeding and conservation successes put it in a position to help restock other nature preserves across the nation suffering from poaching and a lack of finances in Zimbabwe's troubled economy.

It also set up a community trust to channel earnings from its operations into five neighboring rural districts, supporting thousands of villagers and employing at least 800 workers in the conservancy.

The group said the takeovers pose legal and diplomatic repercussions that go well beyond stifling members earnings and crippling the conservancy's conservation efforts before the United Nations World Tourism Organization summit to be held in Zimbabwe next year.

It alleged politicians and Mugabe loyalists were shielding behind racial differences over black empowerment as a ç”°over for greed.?br>
é‘et's end the madness of a few. We cannot host a global tourism conference and on the other hand destroy one of Zimbabwe's tourism jewels because a few want to lay their hands on the treasure, said Willy Pabst, deputy head of the conservancy consortium.
 
allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Save Conservancy Saga Rages On


Zimbabwe: Save Conservancy Saga Rages On


By Sydney Kawadza, 25 August 2012


The Save Valley Conservancy saga rages on with the new partners dismissing chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza and his vice Mr Wilfred Pabst. Chiredzi South legislator Cde Ailess Baloyi has since replaced Mr Nyabadza.

However, Mr Nyabadza who represents Arda in the conservancy on Thursday said the decisions made were null and void.

The Arda board chairman said the meeting was just a monthly anti-poaching one that had nothing to do with administrative and management issues.

In an interview on Thursday, Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke, confirmed the Wednesday meeting.

"Yes, I can confirm the meeting at the conservancy and it was unanimously agreed to endorse Cde Baloyi's election as chairman."

The names of other board members could not be ascertained on Thursday.

The new chairman, however, said they were not dislodging Mr Nyabadza but would continue working with him as a representative of the old farmers.

Governor Maluleke said the decision was made at a meeting between farmers and their new partners. He, however, dismissed reports that the new partners were individuals imposed on them.

"They are authentic partners presented to (Environment and Natural Resources Management) Minister Francis Nhema from my office."

The partners, he said, were chosen through criteria as laid out in the Wildlife-based Land Reform Policy.

"Old farmers and their new partners would now be operating in the conservancy. Communities would be benefiting through the new partnerships."

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management director general, Mr Vitalis Chadenga, recently said the farmers had an option of partnering Government, communities and private indigenous investors.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi has also condemned the "imposed" partnerships. He said it was a ploy to empower few individuals who have benefited in other spheres of indigenisation programmes.

Governor Maluleke conceded that some of the partners benefited from other programmes. He is one of the partners nominated to partner the farmers.

Other prominent personalities include war veteran Cde Joseph Chinotimba, Cde Baloyi, former legislator Cde Shuvai Mahofa, Mr Chadenga and former Tourism and Hospitality Industry secretary Dr Sylvester Maunganidze, among others.

Former Chipinge South legislator Cde Enock Porusingazi, who is on the list, has however, distanced himself from the controversies.

The resident minister said he had an eight-hectare plot at a sugar estate in the province. He, however, said his office was against poaching in the conservancy.

"We have never heard of any incidences of poaching but I am convinced that the National Parks are after the said poachers. We do not condone poaching."

He said Zimbabwe could do without hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly.

"We are a sovereign State with our indigenisation policies. These cannot be stopped because of a single event."

The Wednesday meeting was recorded and The Herald is in possession of the minutes.

New partners did not want to discuss anti-poaching issues but other issues. One even shouted that they were more interested in "meat" than any other issues.

Cde Baloyi declared that the new partners would not produce business proposals nor buy shares.

According to a statement attributed in the minutes he declared; "We have been given the rights and that is all there is to it... We are here to make money."

In an interview, Cde Baloyi acknowledged the meeting but said their efforts were to reconcile the two groups.

"We were given leases to join the farmers not to dislodge them. We would however continue working with them until a solution is found."

Mr Nyabadza said: "Arda was elected to chair the executive committee in February this year and I represent the authority.

"New partners came to security meeting that would report progress to the executive on their anti-poaching activities."

He said a senior National Parks regional manager identified as Mrs Tom chaired the meeting that was also attended by security departments.

"The meeting was recorded and attendees were quoted verbatim and information has been delivered to the relevant authorities.

"The meeting had nothing to do with management or administrative issues of the conservancy."

He insisted that he was still in charge as chairperson.

"The issue is not contested by anyone except Mr Baloyi who has expressed his wish that I am not from Masvingo province.

"It's a personal and limited idea which will not be bought by my party (Zanu-PF) and Government," said Mr Nyabadza.

Arda is a founding member of the conservancy and assumed chairmanship, which is rotated among members.
 
Money for nothing. Goodbye Save. Wish I could have visited before this boiled over.
 
Dear Gents

In 12 days time, I'm going to Save for a Buffalo hunt, the last I heard from Whittall is that they still conduct hunts, but with this stream of bad News coming from Save, who knows it may still be canceled in the last minut. Any way, I will keep you posted.
 
Dear Gents

In 12 days time, I'm going to Save for a Buffalo hunt, the last I heard from Whittall is that they still conduct hunts, but with this stream of bad News coming from Save, who knows it may still be canceled in the last minut. Any way, I will keep you posted.


458, You will certainly be in the thick of it. Here's hoping, at minimum, that your outfitter has an alternate plan for your hunt.

I wish you the best.
 
The guys up there are very organised, professional & used to making it work in the face of adversity so I doubt very much if anyone will have hunts cancelled etc. I'm sure there may be some changes of area though.

In the longer term, the Governmunt need to realise that by forcing the outfitters to take in 'nominated shareholders' they'll be killing the goose that lays the golden egg because any 'nominated shareholder' will automatically go on the US blacklist (if they're not on it already) & consequently no American hunter can hunt with that company because of the Lacey Act.

As Americans make up the large majority of the safari industry, that will mean the company won't do much business...... so better not to have any 'nominated shareholders' so the companies stay in business & pay taxes etc...... but of course, that means a degree of foresight & these madmen ain't big on foresight are they.

Someone said that if these 'nominated shareholders' came to the US conventions they'd be arrested. I think you'll find they wouldn't even get visas to enter the US but even if they did, they'd (bloody unfortunately) probably have diplomatic immunity from arrest.
 
Unfortunately, the uninformed american hunter will still end up booking hunts to travel to the Save, and will unknowingly support the unscrupulous "outfitters" that will be lined up to make what they can before the whole place is gutted. Some unknowing hunter will stumble into the new "outfitters" that will be taking over the Save- possibly at a local SCI, maybe even SCI national, or at some of the other hunting shows. They will get fast talked and then they are on their way to unintentionally pillage what's left of the Save. Hopefully the likes of SCI will stand firm and not allow any of these "outfitters" to market Save hunts at any level of SCI. I don't have my hopes set too high, as i still see unlicensed south african outfitters donating hunts for Zim. The average hunter looking at these hunts don't realize what is going on in Zimbabwe, and
The vast majority of hunters here probably never see what is going on in Zimbabwe, and end up booking what they think is the hunt of a lifetime. They may never know it is possibly/probably illegal, or that they are supporting the wholesale theft of a conservancy that may only be remembered as one of the greatest conservation efforts seen on the African continent.
Unfortunately, while this goes through Zimbabwean kangaroo court, any animal of value for meat, or horn will be decimated. Without the safari companies there to protect the endangered species, how will the wholesale slaughter of the rhino populations be prevented? What about the lions, leopards, and elephants- it may take a season or two, but I can't imagine the quotas will be set with any thought to long term sustainability. We can only hope that this is resolved quickly, and that the current and rightful operators can hold on for the remainder of the season and head of this disaster. I wish all the operators their the best of luck, and truly hope that they have some support from outside of Zim.
.
 
Unfortunately, the uninformed american hunter will still end up booking hunts to travel to the Save, and will unknowingly support the unscrupulous "outfitters" that will be lined up to make what they can before the whole place is gutted. Some unknowing hunter will stumble into the new "outfitters" that will be taking over the Save- possibly at a local SCI, maybe even SCI national, or at some of the other hunting shows. They will get fast talked and then they are on their way to unintentionally pillage what's left of the Save. Hopefully the likes of SCI will stand firm and not allow any of these "outfitters" to market Save hunts at any level of SCI. I don't have my hopes set too high, as i still see unlicensed south african outfitters donating hunts for Zim. The average hunter looking at these hunts don't realize what is going on in Zimbabwe, and
The vast majority of hunters here probably never see what is going on in Zimbabwe, and end up booking what they think is the hunt of a lifetime. They may never know it is possibly/probably illegal, or that they are supporting the wholesale theft of a conservancy that may only be remembered as one of the greatest conservation efforts seen on the African continent.
Unfortunately, while this goes through Zimbabwean kangaroo court, any animal of value for meat, or horn will be decimated. Without the safari companies there to protect the endangered species, how will the wholesale slaughter of the rhino populations be prevented? What about the lions, leopards, and elephants- it may take a season or two, but I can't imagine the quotas will be set with any thought to long term sustainability. We can only hope that this is resolved quickly, and that the current and rightful operators can hold on for the remainder of the season and head of this disaster. I wish all the operators their the best of luck, and truly hope that they have some support from outside of Zim.
.

Is it only we stupid Americans that are uninformed or is everyone else just as stupid? Just wonderin'.
 
Even if quota's were nominally set with long term conservation in mind, do you think "shareholders" with no investment in would stick to the quota's considering they feel they are above the law? Why do the farms already redistributed lay fallow mostly? It would be work to get them productive again. Why work when you can steal from the people who have already paid in blood, sweat, and money to get the place making money.

:edit:The U.S. will topple a dictator in Iraq, and most recently in Libya, but sub-saharan Africa? Forget about it!:edit:
 
Is it only we stupid Americans that are uninformed or is everyone else just as stupid? Just wonderin'.

Pretty much. :) :) :) LOL!

Joking aside. No but you are the only ones who can be prosecuted under the Lacey Act & can face heavy fines & jail time for it.
 
Is it only we stupid Americans that are uninformed or is everyone else just as stupid? Just wonderin'.

I never said stupid- just uninformed. I am sure the majority of hunters who book a trip to Africa have never read or seen forums like this. I would hope those of us who follow forums like this would refrain from hunting with questionable outfitters, but i suspect that the readers of these forums are a vast minority.
I am sure there will be hunters from other countries that end up in Zim hunting with these bastards. I just think that there are so many more americans that travel to Africa to hunt that slowing down bookings of american hunters would have a larger impact than it would from other countries.
I was on the ground in Zim in 2000 when the initial land grab started. When I returned home it was damn difficult to find any info on what was happening in Zim politically, not to mention what was going on with the safari operators. Good information on who is reputable, who is ethical, and who is trustworthy is very hard to find. It takes alot of research. Point is, it can still be a crapshoot to find the right outfit, even when you work hard at it. Hard to believe that in this day and age good info can be so hard to come by, but it is. I just don't think alot of people really research the trips that they take.
 
I never said stupid- just uninformed. I am sure the majority of hunters who book a trip to Africa have never read or seen forums like this. I would hope those of us who follow forums like this would refrain from hunting with questionable outfitters, but i suspect that the readers of these forums are a vast minority.
I am sure there will be hunters from other countries that end up in Zim hunting with these bastards. I just think that there are so many more americans that travel to Africa to hunt that slowing down bookings of american hunters would have a larger impact than it would from other countries.
I was on the ground in Zim in 2000 when the initial land grab started. When I returned home it was damn difficult to find any info on what was happening in Zim politically, not to mention what was going on with the safari operators. Good information on who is reputable, who is ethical, and who is trustworthy is very hard to find. It takes alot of research. Point is, it can still be a crapshoot to find the right outfit, even when you work hard at it. Hard to believe that in this day and age good info can be so hard to come by, but it is. I just don't think alot of people really research the trips that they take.

Yes, I added the stupid part to make the point that it looked like you had singled out Americans. Perhaps you didnt mean it that way. I agree with your basic point of course. I also agree that many Americans are uninformed and ignorant and even stupid. Just notice how we vote!
 
There are things you can do to help ensure you get it right but the best thing is to contact ZPHA to check the deal offered is on the level and of course make sure you get something in writing from the safari company concerned that states none of their shareholders etc are on the US banned list and that you won't be setting foot on any land that's been illegally seized etc.
 
Dear Gents

I just got confirmation from Guy Whittall through my Danish agent (Limpopo Travel), my hunt will take place as planned.:)
The meeting between them and the new "Shareholders" went so well that they continue to hunt.. So in 10 days I am going to the middle of the Save Conservancy.
I wonder if the trouble of the past weeks can be felt ..??? :confused:
I will write you a report, when I get back.
 
http://www.herald.co.zw/index....ures-news&Itemid=134 (Save: Conservation or colonialism?)

Save: Conservation or colonialism?

Thursday, 30 August 2012 00:00

Isdore Guvamombe Features Editor

IN the past two weeks or so, Save Valley Conservancy in Chiredzi, south of Masvingo, has hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons, yet when one follows the hullabaloo with a trained ear, many people involved seem to miss the real points, facts and context. It is critical to start with general historical facts about wildlife in Zimbabwe before going into the new era that has caused many heartaches, confusion and tongue lashing, even among Cabinet ministers.
First, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) had a wildlife policy that took a turn in 1975, through the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The 1975 Act took away all the wildlife from the indigenous people and redistributed it between the State and the white farmers. The white farmers then started having private wildlife conservancies but were keeping wildlife on behalf of the State, which allocated them hunting quotas for harvesting.
The Act deprived the majority blacks of wildlife by classifying them as poachers after meat, and classified whites as conservationists and professional hunters.
This was based on the belief that blacks only needed meat while the whites needed the precious trophy as in ivory, horns and hides. Blacks protested.
Rhodesia then made another proclamation called the Windfall, which meant that blacks from the communities surrounding the conservancies would occasionally, get a 努indfall of meat when an elephant was shot and killed during the whiteman痴 professional hunting.
The whites took away the precious ivory and sold it in markets in Europe and Asia for thousands of dollars while blacks shared the meat. The local chief was given the elephant trunk as a sign of respect. Compare the pieces of meat given to each family with the US$20 000 hunting price for an elephant.
It should be noted that the majority of Zimbabweans do not generally eat elephant meat but only taste it when it is available. Elephant meat has never been part of the menu of Africans.
Game meat from buffalo and other large plains game, which has historically been part of the main relish menu of blacks was turned into biltong for international markets in Europe and Asia and shops in cities and the blacks were never given that meat.
At independence in 1980 the blacks continued to protest and in 1982, the new Government of Zimbabwe tried to solve the issue through the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire). While this was a good project that brought real benefits to the black people in terms of sharing of hunting dividends, construction of schools, clinics roads and real life benefits, it was restricted mainly to Guruve, Gokwe, Hurungwe and Binga where there was State land teeming with wildlife. The white farmers or private conservancies were not touched.
The Save Valley Conservancy is situated in the south-eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe and covers approximately 342 123 square kilometres and was never part of the Rhodesian wildlife conservancy matrix.
Since colonialism, this area was predominantly used for cattle ranching until 1991 when intermittent droughts and erratic rainfall patterns forced 21 white property owners to abandon cattle ranching and form the Save Valley Conservancy that has become a sore of Zimbabwe痴 wildlife based land reform programme.
It should be noted that the massive drought served as a catalyst to change overall land use from cattle ranching to conservation.
Setting aside personal agendas, dividing fences and differences of opinion individual ranchers worked to create an enormous wildlife reserve. There we must give credit where it is due. It was quite a good job.
The Government approved the plan and even assisted Save Valley Conservancy access a loan facility to restock the conservancy with wildlife. But operationally the new conservancy adopted the Rhodesian mentality, dwelling on the Windfall system with slight modifications.
There are times when villagers from the surrounding communities were made to buy elephant meat for US$1 per kg from Save Valley Conservancy instead of giving them for free. There are times and many people can testify, when villagers who did not have cash were asked to batter trade with hard-earned sorghum and rapoko (the drought-resistant grain crops villagers managed to harvest in that drought prone area).
It is important at this stage to note that out of the 21 properties that today form the Save Valley Conservancy, only one Sango Ranch owned by Wilfried Pabst is protected under BIPPA, through the Germany government.
To date, this property has not been allocated to any indigenous person yet its owner is in the forefront of demonising the whole process. This is fact not fiction.
At the dawn of the Land Reform Programme, all land in Zimbabwe ceased to belong to individuals and reverted to the State. Remember all the wild animals are still State property and National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority only gives one permission.
After the formation of Save Valley Conservancy, the area became an island surrounded by a sea of poverty, thus maintaining the Rhodesian scenario. It became isolated, secluded and a no-go area for blacks to the extent that no one from villagers to journalists and Government officials would easily get access to it and its happenings.
Several airstrips became dotted where private jets landed and did business without national security scrutiny. There has always been suspicion of underhand dealings and the latest refusal to allow black players to partner with the former owners further strengthens this suspicion.
It must be interesting to note that Save Valley Conservancy is not the only one affected by the land reform programme. There is Bubi and Bubiana in Matabeleland South, there is Gwayi in Matabeleland North and there is Sebakwe in Midlands, among others yet the noise is coming from Save Valley only.
The reason is simple, being the largest European island in Africa, Save Valley Conservancy was the capital of the last vestige of hard core Rhodesians and is using the German BIPPA to leverage resistance.
What the Save Valley Conservancy has done is to use the hosting of forthcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation 2013 General Assembly to hold the nation痴 wildlife-based land reform programme at ransom.
Since the wildlife-based land reform programme was promulgated in 2006 and the 25-year leases given to the indigenes in 2007, there has been fierce resistance by the former white owners so much that without resistance from them, this country would be past that phase.
Until two weeks ago, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has been withholding, since 2007, hunting permits, demanding that there be order between the political leadership in Masvingo, the new farmers and the old farmers.
The reason was simple: Parks did not want to be part of the selection criteria and also the brewing conflicts.
If anything the new lease holders have been too patient to remain on the sidelines with papers in their hands instead of moving in to do business.
When the wildlife-based land reform policy was adopted in 2006 the issue of the hosting of the UNWTO was nowhere in the picture and when the leases were subsequently allocated in 2007, the hosting of the UNWTO General S\Assembly was still not even thought off.
To link the two is therefore political mischief on the part of the former white owners who are not being evicted but are being told to co-exist with new players.
The adverts being flighted in newspapers about emaciated blacks, whose ribs one can count but trying to take over Save Valley and destroying wildlife are ironic and racist. They are typical of the Rhodesian propaganda scare tactics and should be condemned with the contempt they deserve.
The come the issue of the beneficiaries. It is fact not fiction that some of the beneficiaries own land elsewhere and that cannot escape scrutiny.
But the selection of beneficiaries was done by the Chiredzi District land committee and endorsed by the Masvingo provincial land committee.
If there is a problem with the criteria then that is Masvingo痴 problem. But on further investigation the 25-year leases have no guarantee of being extended and therefore one might need another piece of land as a fall back position.
Early this year National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority refused to renew 10-year-leases that had expired and those were for some of the most senior service chiefs, among other senior citizens. So that example means one would need somewhere to fall back on. This is unlike the 99-year leases for the other land reform component.
By and large, the new beneficiaries have to really invest in cash into conservancies because in order to harvest the wildlife, one needs to employ a professional hunter, erect hunting camps, drill artificial water holes and market their quota.
The issue at Save Valley Conservancy is that of the last resistance to indigenisation of the wildlife sector, forever, the preserve of whites in Rhodesia and the first two decades of Zimbabwe.
When the dust eventually settles, the former white farmers will have to come to terms with the reality that Save Valley Conservancy cannot remain an island in Zimbabwe, feeding the pockets of one race.

Feedback: isadore.guvamombe@zimpapers.co.zw
 

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