Zimbabwe Suspends Hunting

AfricaHunting.com

Founder
AH ambassador
Joined
Oct 1, 2007
Messages
13,061
Reaction score
9,154
Website
www.africahunting.com
Media
5,597
Articles
321
Zimbabwe Suspends Hunting
by Chenai Maramba


HARARE – Zimbabwe has suspended wildlife hunting licences in what sources said was part of efforts to curb poaching that has been on the rise since the start of the year.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife, in charge of national parks in the country, flighted adverts in the press on Monday warning permit holders currently on hunting sessions to stop hunting with immediate effect.

''National Parks and Wildlife Authority would like to warn the public that all current hunting permits have been suspended with immediate effect to verify them,” the advert said, adding; “All current permit holders are advised to approach the Parks Authority to verify validity of their permits.''

National Parks director general Morris Mutsambiwa could not be reached for comment.

However, a senior official with a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) that campaigns against poaching said suspension of permits was aimed at curbing poaching and abuse of hunting permits that has seen the country losing thousands of dollars in potential earnings from trophy hunting.

''National Parks is reacting to numerous reports of poaching, over-hunting of quotas by hunters as well as abuse of permits,'' said the NGO official who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.

Last month National Parks officials blamed the upsurge in poaching in the country on a cartel of international gangsters they said were funding poachers to kill valuable game such as the rhino that is hunted for its horn.

Zimbabwe is one of four countries in the world that still have significant populations of rhinos. The other three all in Africa are Kenya, Namibia and South Africa.

Wildlife authorities in the country have found it hard to contain poaching in national parks especially after landless villagers began invading – with the government’s tacit approval – white-owned farms in 2000.

There have also been widespread reports of illegal and uncontrolled trophy hunting on former white-owned conservancies now controlled by powerful politicians from President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party.

The government however denies that politicians are illegally hunting game and insists it still has poaching under control.


Source: ZimOnline
 
Parks Suspends Hunting Licenses

Parks Suspends Hunting Licenses


THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) has suspended all hunting permits in order to carry out a verification exercise on their validity, amid indications that some safari hunters might be holding fake permits.

In an interview yesterday, ZPWMA Director-General Dr Morris Mutsambiwa said following numerous allegations of illegal activities in the hunting sector, it was seen fit to carry out the verification exercise.

He said in recent weeks there have been plenty of accusations that have been flying around, hence the need to investigate the state of the sector to come up with a true position.

“There are a lot of accusations flying around regarding the current holders of hunting permits,” he said.

“As an authority we have therefore seen it fit to get onto the ground and find out for ourselves. It is our hope that all those that have been issued with hunting permits would come forward to clear their names,” he said,

He said given that hunting is taken as a sport, it would be in the interests of permit-holders to do so within the confines of the law.

In a statement yesterday, the authority said the verification includes any hunting currently under way and ending on 31 December.

“Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority would like to advise the public that all hunting permits have been suspended with immediate effect for the purposes of verifying them.

“All current hunting permit-holders are advised to approach the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority head office to verify the validity of their permits. Verification of hunting permits includes any hunting currently under way and ending on 31 December 2009,” said the authority in a statement.
The media has been awash with allegations of rampant poaching, especially of the endangered black rhinos.

Mr Vitalis Chadenga, operations director of the authority last week told the local media that from January to October this year, the country had lost 65 elephants through poaching.

“In the same period we have lost 24 black and six white rhinos. It is true that we have a group of international gangsters, who are funding poachers around this part of the world. We have arrested 2 500 poachers and 10 have been shot dead since the beginning of this year,” said Mr Chadenga said.


Source: Chronicle
 
This is a serious issue. I am not sure how to react - is this a good step in that the Government might actually now be doding somethign to protect what is likely to be its best natural resouce and therefore external income source, or does this mean even more instability in the government and less confidence in hunting Zimbabwe in the future?

I personally have a hunt schedule for 2010 for elephant, Cape Buffalo and Leopard itn Nixon Dzingia in the Malapati Concession. All reports fro this year from that area are that the game is still abundant, lots of elephant, really good Lepard # still alot of Cape Buffalo, but even the old dugga boys do not score as high as other areas, like the Zambesi or Botswana.

Jerome - please help to keep us Zim fans (or more specifically, those of us who will still hunt there untl things get worse) approased of this situation.

What do others think. Is this a good step towards Game Management or another warning sign that Zim is unstable and safais there present a problem for he hunter, potentially including the inabilty to export trophies taken and paid for?
 
This is very interesting. I wonder what exactly ths means. It couldnt be at a worse time. A month before Reno and Dallas. Wonder if and when ill get my buff cape and head out of zim.
 
Of course as soon as there is more information available I will post it right away... I too am not sure as to what the impact of all of this will be or how long it will last... If anyone has any further information on this please do not hesitate to post it.

Cleathorn and Tom, I would contact your outfitters as they probably have more information or an idea of what's going on being in Zimbabwe. Let us know if you find out anything.
 
The sport hunting industry in Zimbabwe is very large and profitable even amidst the economic shambles there. One must wonder if there will ultimately be concession fee increases along with permit fee increases, all of which will lead to an increased safari cost, to fund a heightened anti-poaching effort.

Hmmmmm. . . . I'll bet there will be a lot of questions for Zim outfitters in Reno and Dallas. Sure do hope they have some answers.
 
I agree with you Big5, the fees have been very reasonable in Zimbabwe and they have a long history of great hunting. It will be interesting to see how the whole thing turns out. There government has been on a train wreck for some time. And this couldn't happen at a worse time, with all the conventions coming up!

My best wishes to the outfitters of Zimbabwe....good luck!
 
It would appear the government of Zimbabwe, a government which has little or no credibility internationally, has once again shot itself in the foot. The vast majority of the political decisions it has made in the last decade has slowly eroded what was a wildlife and habitat conservation system and safari industry that was the envy of all of Africa and to which others looked to as how things could be. Sure they had their problems, as we all do, but overall it was a 'thing of beauty'.

Now the country is in a shambles and the parks, conservation areas and private land conservancies are in total disarray. The safari operators and professional hunters have been fighting an uphill battle to try and stay in business, despite the fact that many of them having lost their own private property and estates that have been in their families for generations.

Many hunters from overseas have taken the stance that they will not hunt in Zimbabwe as long as the Mugabe government exists and despite the fact that their removal of support for the safari industry has made things even more difficult for everyone in a situation that is beyond what any of us can imagine.

Unscrupulous individuals have found a way to make a buck while Zimbabwe is in turmoil and this of course is at the expense of all who live there and the law abiding operators who have their country and wildlife's best interests at heart. I wonder if this could not have been addressed in a different manner and why they did not seek advice before issuing press releases that serve only to further stress an already crippled safari industry.

As many of you have stated, this could not be at worse time with all things considered........not the least of which is the shaky global economy we are all too familiar with. This may well be the last tidbit of uncertainty that is required to cause the less cautious amongst us to look elsewhere.

Their timing simply could not be worse.
 
UPDATE: Zimbabwe Hunting Season Remains Open

UPDATE: Zimbabwe Hunting Season Remains Open

SCI has received confirmation yesterday disputing the rumor that Zimbabwe had closed hunting for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. SCI communicated with the Zimbabwean government and learned that hunting for the remainder of the 2009 and for 2010 will continue while Zimbabwe engages in enhanced measures to curb poaching. Zimbabwe’s government, responding to allegations that some 2009 hunting permits were being forged, are now taking extra precautions to confirm that all government issued hunting permits are in fact legitimate. Moving forward into next year, the government will create new government permits that have better forgery security. Below is an excerpt from the Zimbabwean Wildlife Authorities office that verifies the status of hunting for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

“We advise that the suspension was solely for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of the permits. There have been several allegation of illegal hunts taking place in the country using forged permits. This may result in clients not being able to export their trophies from Zimbabwe which in turn may discredit hunting in the country. As a result it was felt prudent that all permits used for hunting this season should have their authenticity verified, hence this exercise. In addition this exercise would put the Authority in a position where it can confidently comment on the legality or illegality of the hunts. All illegal hunts will then be published and perpetrators brought to book. Furthermore the current permit system will be reviewed to add more security features to reduce or avoid the use of forged permits. We advise clients that hunting in Zimbabwe has not been stopped but that potential clients should assist in the verification process. This can be done through our offices by contacting the Business Development Manager responsible for hunting who is Mr. Tawanda Chipere, available on tchipere@zimparks.co.zw or telephone +263 912 420 496 or + 263 4 792731 direct line.” - Dr. Mtsambiwa, Director General, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.


Source: Safari Club International (SCI)
 
As a Zimbabwean involved in the Safari industry here, the first article was a shock to say the least, but if read carefully it was never going to be a long term thing, the basic facts are that the country cannot do without the large revenue brought in by hunters......period, they will try and minimise the illegal operations but cannot possibly stop all hunting, yes the timing was really bad, but this follow up article should now ease a lot of minds about booked or potential safaris in Zimbabwe in 2010. If you are booked with one of the long time outfitters, there are no shenanigans and all is registered, the permits are in place and your Trophies will be exported. I am looking forward to a good 2010 season in Zimbabwe and sharing experiences with new friends.

I do not see a major problem with this development, certainly not by the time the 2010 season starts.
 
Rod, Thanks for your insight on this issue. Welcome to AH!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,613
Messages
1,131,123
Members
92,666
Latest member
ModestaHac
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top