Operators urge parks authority to introduce conservation fee

Business Reporter
February 16, 2010


SAFARI operators have urged the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to expedite the introduction of the conservation fee to finance anti-poaching activities.
In a telephone interview, the vice-chairman of Makuti Safaris and a member of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Emmanuel Fundira, said they were unhappy with failure by ZPWMA to introduce the conservation fee.
Soaz members at their Annual General Meeting last year passed a resolution on the payment of a conservation fee, which would be forwarded to the ZPWMA.
"The introduction of the conservation fee will go a long way in creating a robust anti-poaching campaign and in protecting the natural resources. Many countries in the world have introduced the conservation fee with countries like Kenya and Tanzania having successfully benefited from the introduced fee,” he said.
Mr Fundira said the conservation fee would be paid by clients who will be visiting safari places and would be passed on to ZPWMA for anti-poaching activities.
Last year Soaz members passed a resolution in which they said the ZPWMA and the safari operators should work together to curb poaching incidents through introducing an anti-poaching committee composed of both operators and ZPWMA officials.
The resolution followed an increase in poaching activities especially by South African hunters who were not registered with ZPWMA and were using vehicles with foreign numbers, which is not allowed.