Conservancy slams ‘criminal’ handover of hunting permits to ZPF
By Alex Bell
13 August 2012
The Save Valley Conservancy has called the decision to hand over hunting
permits to ZANU PF cronies, under the guise of indigenisation, a purely
‘criminal act’ that threatens the future of tourism in Zimbabwe.
The government last week issued hunting permits to 25 so-called indigenous
‘farmers’ who were given land in the wildlife-rich Save Valley Conservancy
in the Lowveld. National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, director
general Vitalis Chadenga, said this was part of the government’s ‘wildlife
based land reform’ exercise, saying beneficiaries have been allocated
25-year land leases in conservancies throughout Masvingo province.
Included in the list of beneficiaries are top ZANU PF officials and
loyalists, such as Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, former Gutu South
legislator Shuvai Mahofa and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan
Mudenge.
The state media reported last week that the exercise was a result of a
refusal by white safari operators in the areas to ‘coexist’ with the new
farmers, who reportedly were given the leases in 2004.
But Wilfried Pabst, the Vice Chairman of the Save Valley Conservancy, said
the permits are ‘illegal’ and granting them is a “criminal act” that will
ultimately destroy the hunting industry and, in the long run, have a major
impact on tourism.
He dismissed the allegations that there had been a ‘refusal’ by
conservancies to engage, saying a number of proposals on the reform of the
wildlife industry had been made. He said these proposals were never
discussed, and added that ‘wild life land reform’ has not been ratified or
approved by Parliament.
“The people now involved have specifically stated that they don’t care about
wildlife in meetings I have been in. They only care about the cash to be
made,” Pabst said.
He added that this in itself shows the ignorance about the very complex
hunting industry, because of the assumption that easy money can be made.
“This is a slow and low return business and not something that makes you
rich overnight. We have said that need a passion for wildlife and
conservation and an understanding of how it all works and if you don’t, you
shouldn’t get involved,” Pabst said.
He warned that this is “another sector in Zimbabwe that will be destroyed,”
while insisting the plans have nothing to do with indigenisation. He said
this will put current safari operations out of business, meaning more people
will be unemployed.
“The motivation here is purely personal enrichment and has nothing to do
with indigenisation,” Pabst said.