http://allafrica.com/stories/201209120298.html


Tanzania: Professional Hunters Call for Level Playing Field

By Finnigan Wa Simbeye, 12 September 2012


GOVERNMENT should introduce regulations that force foreign hunting companies to give equal employment opportunities to local professional hunters as compared to their foreign peers.

Simba Professional Hunters Association (SPHA) Chairman, Hilary Daffi and a veteran local professional hunter, Gervas Michael, told 'Daily News' that since the onset of free market economies, the number of local hunters getting recruited by foreign firms has been diminishing thanks to lack of regulations to guide the sector.

"Since the demise of Tawico (Tanzania Wildlife Corporation), the number of local professional hunters has declined because there is no place to formally train them," Mr Daffi who is also Director of Hilary Daffi Hunting Safaris, said.He pointed out that the problem is not foreign hunting firms but poor local regulations that have left a leeway for the former to exploit.

"At my company all professional hunters recruited are locals but the situation on the ground in general is different. We can't blame private companies but rather our own regulations, "Daffi who has over three decades experience in the trade argued.

He said during Tawico days in the 1980s, young professional hunters were trained and joined the profession but ever since the corporation's demise, new recruits are lacking and even the few who are plying the trade are not getting equal treatment like their foreign peers.

"It's undisputable that we need foreign professional hunters just like we need foreign hunting firms to enrich our local industry but what we are asking for is a level playing field," argued Daffi who retired from Cotton Gordon Safaris as a professional hunter in 1999. He joined professional hunting in 1988 while working with Tawico.

Lamenting the poor state of regulations governing the industry, SPHA member and veteran professional hunter, Mr Michael said the country's recruitment regulations are outdated and burden them more than foreign hunters."For example, we are now required to pay TALA fees like tourist firms while we also pay hunting licensing fees annually," argued Michael.

Professional hunters are effective this fiscal year required to pay 200 US dollars (approx. 314,000/-) as fees to Tourist Agents Licensing Authority. Michael also questioned a procedure which requires local professional hunters to pay for new licences once they get new employees within the same year.

"We pay 1,000 US dollars as licensing fees per annum but when one leaves an employer to a new one they are required to pay new annual fees, why?" wondered the veteran hunter who pleaded with government to introduce pay as you earn as an alternative.

Local professional hunters earn between 100 and 150 US dollars (approx. between 150,000/- and 235,500/-) per day and often get short trips of 10 days while their foreign peers earn up to 2,000 US dollars a day and often get a maximum of 21 days on the field. Foreign hunters pay 3,000 US dollars in licence fees and work permits per year.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism spokesman, George Matiko said the acting Director of Wildlife is simply enforcing what is provided for in the law. "I invite you to come over so that the director can explain to you provisions of the law," he said while referring to the Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009.

quote:

Local professional hunters earn between 100 and 150 US dollars (approx. between 150,000/- and 235,500/-) per day and often get short trips of 10 days while their foreign peers earn up to 2,000 US dollars a day and often get a maximum of 21 days on the field.

Wow!!....$2,000 per day! x 21days....that's a tidy sum!........I wish.

Just shows how some people can't tell the difference between daily rates and PH fees!

"while their foreign peers earn up to 2,000 US dollars a day"



I wonder what the weather is like on Planet Daffi today!

While he's addressing the issue of level playing fields I wonder if he'll also address the issue of why a foreign PH should pay soooooooo much extra for his PH licence etc?

The problem is that due to this poor reporting, the unqualified masses end up believing it!

I am not familiar with Tanzania and hunting there.

Is this a Tanzania PH vs South African PH problem or a black vs white problem?

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Originally posted by fujotupu:

quote:

Local professional hunters earn between 100 and 150 US dollars (approx. between 150,000/- and 235,500/-) per day and often get short trips of 10 days while their foreign peers earn up to 2,000 US dollars a day and often get a maximum of 21 days on the field.

Wow!!....$2,000 per day! x 21days....that's a tidy sum!........I wish.

Just shows how some people can't tell the difference between daily rates and PH fees!

Ya, I found that interesting too! If its $2k per day, I'm moving to TZ full time!

Damn, I'm a dumbass - I PH'ed for far less than $2000 per day. If I ask nicely, do you think I will receive backpay?

I have to wonder if he was referring to certain PH's that sublease areas. Perhaps they are getting $2,000 a day but the $2,000 is more than the PH fee.

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Originally posted by larryshores:
I have to wonder if he was referring to certain PH's that sublease areas. Perhaps they are getting $2,000 a day but the $2,000 is more than the PH fee.

Ya, about 5 times the "general" going rate I would say.

Normal journalism by current standards.

They have taken the daily rate and turned it into a PH's daily pay.

It is more sensational, but has no relation to the truth.

quote:

Finnigan Wa Simbeye

I'm guessing "Finnigan Wa Simbeye" is one of those "Professional" African journalists ...