Bribery In Namibia: Government Forced Community Into Silence

NamStay

AH fanatic
Joined
Dec 18, 2015
Messages
883
Reaction score
1,679
Media
107
Articles
284
full



What exactly is the Namibian government is trying to hide?

Dogged by allegations of bribery and unethical operators, a dodgy permitting system, and the contentious hunting of so-called ‘problem animals’ – Namibia’s hunting community has now been forced into silence by its own government.

The country’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has released a memorandum that prohibits the posting of hunted dead animals on social media. The memorandum calls the practice of taking pictures of hunters posing with trophies, not of hunting itself, “unethical”, raising concerns as to what exactly the Namibian government is trying to hide.

“To deprive a hunter of bragging rights will simply turn him elsewhere,” says Izak Smit of Desert Lions Human Relations Aid. “Instead the MET should ensure proper regulation and control of hunting… and cleanse the industry of unethical operators that target high value iconic rare species i.e. desert elephants and lions,” he explains.

Despite the Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) publicly supporting the policy and calling on their members to do the same, the requirement has not gone down well with parties on either side. Pro-hunters have defended their right to market hunts on social media, saying that the statement bows down to anti-hunters while others say that this just allows the MET to conduct a barbaric slaughter of lions and wildlife in secrecy. According to NAPHA, “Namibia cannot afford any opposition to hunting.”

The memorandum specifically prohibits hunters with valid permits from posting or sending photographs on public platforms, by making this a permit condition However for now this memorandum appears unenforceable. “For now we believe that this is the right thing to do and we optimistic that hunters and safaris will adhere to this moral issue in the absence of a legal backing. We are counting on everyone’s good will,” says the MET.

The MET tried to pass a similar motion in 2017 which would enforce permit conditions that prohibited all marketing of trophy hunting on the internet. However, this was shot down by NAPHA as they said that “advertising is critical for such businesses”.

The memorandum comes on the back of a social media backlash following the recent killing of another desert-adapted lion by the MET, as well as a number of allegations that members of the ministry are personally pocketing funds from trophy hunting. The killing of the iconic lion, Gretzky, caused a widespread social media call to boycott Namibia as a tourism destination. “The skin and bones and claws also seem to have vanished into thin air even though the MET’ s own personnel dealt with it,” says Smith.


Source: https://www.eturbonews.com/228941/bribery-in-namibia-government-forced-community-into-silence
 
Namibia Professional Hunting Association shared a post.
Yesterday at 4:50 AM ·

Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia
Yesterday at 3:58 AM ·
Dear all, as you may be already aware that, our Permanent Secretary Dr.Lindeque has retired from the Public Service. In this regard the Secretary to Cabinet has appointed Mr. Teofilus Nghitila as Acting Permanent Secretary effective immediately. Please adress all correspondences accordingly. Thank you
 
The "news" source has not even kept up with the announcement of the withdrawal/review of the "media" policy.

When you read "iconic" followed by the name for some animal you can conclude what you are reading is tripe.

MET being trashed for problem animal control and protecting citizens and their property?

Hunting Outfitters being trashed because they obtain permits to hunt?

:A Blink:
 
What the hell happened in the model hunting country? Namibia was the country we all looked up to. Man what a shit storm hunters are having to endure recently.
 
What the hell happened in the model hunting country? Namibia was the country we all looked up to. Man what a shit storm hunters are having to endure recently.

Good question!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
61,932
Messages
1,358,380
Members
117,461
Latest member
EverettBur
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

crossfire3006 wrote on JoninCO's profile.
Had an excellent classifieds transaction with JoninCO. A truly honest and standup member. I wouldn't hesitate at all to deal with him again. Thanks, J!
Francois R wrote on Lance Hopper's profile.
Hi Lance, Hope you well. I collect Mauser rifles and they are very much part of my cultural history in Africa. Would you consider selling the rifle now a year on ? I'd like to place it in my collection of Mauser rifles. Many thx
Cooper65 wrote on Rockwall205's profile.
I saw where you hunted elephant with backcountry safaris in Zimbabwe.
Was looking to book an elephant hunt and wanted to know how your hunt went
and if you would recommend them.

Thanks
Mike
hi, do you know about lions hunters, leopard hunters, and crocodiles hunters of years 1930s-1950s
 
Top