Farm Invaders Abandon 65 Lions At Farm

By ROV

MASVINGO- Farm invaders have abandoned 65 lions on the verge of starvation for three weeks now since they chased away the farm owner, a white commercial farmer who also owned a conservancy, Ronnie Sparrow. 
 
Sparrow, of Swatfontein Farm, was chased away from his property by National War Veterans Association secretary general, retired army Major Alex Mudavanhu, who is also the former ZANU PF Masvingo provincial chairman.

The lions, already under the custodianship of the National Parks and Wildlife Authority, were roaring in hunger as they needed at least 300kgs of meat a day.

Radio VOP which visited the farm Thursday witnessed the the terrible state of the lions.
Ronnie’s cousin, Marc Sparrow, said his brother did not neglect the animals, but was forced to leave them unattended as the war veterans were baying for his blood. Ronnie skipped the country and is in exile in South Africa. He has since been listed on the police wanted list for failing to vacate his farm. He is being charged for failing to vacate state land under the Gazetted Lands Act.

“He did not abandon them, but he had to flee for safety as he is a victim of the fresh farm invasions. He liked them so much so that he wrote to the National Parks seeking assistance after he saw that the situation had got out of hand,” Marc said. He said the whereabouts of his cousin still remains a mystery. “Right now, I do not know where he is, he just told me that he is fleeing the country after Mudavanhu targeted his farm,” said Marc, who is based in South Africa and also owns a chain of hotels there.

Marc revealed that his cousin intended to build a five star lodge in the area to attract tourist ahead of the 2010 soccer showcase in South Africa.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Francis Nhema said the National Parks is going to place he animals in other parks where there are no lions.

Sparrow’s workers blasted Mudavanhu over the land seizure, saying they want the white farmer back as their future is uncertain. “Our future is uncertain… he used to pay fees for our kids, as well as looked after orphans and widows. Mudavanhu has chased us away, and is failing to look after the animals. We want Sparrow back,” they said.

Headman of the area, Kudakwashe Chiwara, also petitioned Nhema over the land seizure. He argued Mudavanhu is greedy as he also has another farm, Rippling Waters, situated along the Masvingo-Gutu road, just after Roy.

Meanwhile, the Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has intervened to take care of the animals.

Nhema said his Ministry would take over conservancies if the new owners are not capable of taking care of them.

I don't know Ronnie Sparrow, but I know someone who has hunted with him several times and speaks highly about him. Reading about Sparrow allegedly abandoning 65 lions led me to Google his name. I found the story above, and the one below.

-- Bill Quimby


STATEMENT from Mr Ben Zietsman, Matabeleland CFU Regional Executive Officer

APOLOGY

Further to our previous report (Press Release - SA Hunters Arrested in Zimbabwe, dated 9 July 2003) regarding a group of twelve South African hunters arrested for hunting on Chipizi Ranch in the West Nicholson area, Mr Ronnie Sparrow and his company, Fair Chase Safaris, were incorrectly implicated in this illegal activity.

Recent information has to come light necessitating the following statement: Mr Ronnie Sparrow of Fair Chase Safaris has informed us that he had entered into an associate agreement with Mr Nick van Zyl of Ndole Safaris in Phalaborwa in South Africa at the end of May this year to facilitate the easy transfer of clients to Zimbabwe for hunts conducted by Fair Chase Safaris. Mr van Zyl allegedly used this agreement under false pretences to gain entry into Zimbabwe and to obtain an illegal hunting quota from the Gwanda Rural District Council, which he and the group proceeded to hunt on Chipizi Ranch.

During investigations into the illegal hunt on Chipizi Ranch, it transpired that they had named Mr Sparrow as the supervising Professional Hunter to the Colleen Bawn butcher processing the meat for them. Due to this deceit, Mr Sparrow and his safari company were erroneously implicated in their nefarious activities. I wish to place on record that, to the best of my knowledge, Mr Ronnie Sparrow was not part of this group and he has disassociated himself from them. Any embarrassment and prejudice suffered by Mr Sparrow and Fair Chase Safaris as a result of statements issued by this office regarding the incident is sincerely regretted.

Meanwhile, investigations into the possible involvement of Mr van Zyl's group in the killing of a rhino and elephants continues in Zimbabwe and in South Africa. The wholesale slaughter of Zimbabwean wildlife continues by similar groups in the Gwaai ad Matetsi areas of Matabeleland North. These biltong hunters are entering Zimbabwe to exploit the confusion surrounding land ownership in order to remove large quantities of raw meat and trophies off listed farms, back into their countries by various routes and means, thus risking the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease to Botswana and South Africa. Hopefully these activities can be curbed as authorities in all three countries become aware of the problem.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that one's fellow man will let you down and disappoint you, as these opportunistic hunters are doing. They are cashing in on the political instability in Zimbabwe for short term gain to make pleasure and ego-boosting poaching forays into our beautiful country, dangling rand notes and forex in front of hungry and gullible settlers whilst stripping Zimbabwe's natural wildlife heritage from its people without a twinge of conscience or any sign of remorse. When confronted they display only arrogance and disdain for our people and our country.

Thanks for that Bill, does shed better light on everything.

Dave

Wasn't Sparrow thrown out of SCI a few years ago?

I know he was working for Mike Warn in Oregon raising Ostriches at one time. I don't think that went very well.

Please Pass the salt & pepper...

Got some crow to eat..

What goes around comes around. What on earth was he doing with 65 lions, he wasn't selling them to clients them was he?

Thanks, Bill. The trial by internet which always includes a lynching via electrons gets a bit tiresome. Your search certainly brings two sides to the story.

I think if Major Mudavanhu was chasing me off of my farm, the last thing I would do before leaving would be to unlatch the pens on 65 soon to be very hungry lions.......

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
I think if Major Mudavanhu was chasing me off of my farm, the last thing I would do before leaving would be to unlatch the pens on 65 soon to be very hungry lions.......

Kinda what I was thinking!!! Get 'em boys!!!

Then his former employees and their families possibly living on or near the property would be in great danger. Not a good idea.

That's good reporting Bill. Thanks for the first post...Even more thanks for the second post. As a former reporter who spent lotsa time in those parts, I can tell ya the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Let's not BBQ Mr. Sparrow on this forum. Yes he's had challenges, but he deserves his fair say on all this. It's not fair to pass judgment until all the facts are in. These reports need to have better attributions, more direct quotes and less propaganda based sentencing, before they can be held reliable.

The standards of journalism over there leave so much to be desired, especially when the story involves the safari/hunting industry. The anti-hunting sentiment often skews the tone of the article to benefit the bias of the writer. I won't call these guys "reporters", because what they write are one-sided editorials.

Never have met Sparrow, have seen him in several videos.

Moja

I met Ronnie in Botswana in 1988 while hunting buffalo with John Northcote.A very interesting person from an equally interesting family.
Juckett

I know Ronnie personally and have hunted with him and stayed with his family in Masvingo. Just from my personal knowledge of him and his family, I have nothing but above board comments on him. He exhibited nothing but the highest standards and courteous manners the entire 3 weeks I was with him. He is a loving father to his children and husband to his wife. I can report that I have been to Ronnie's Lion conservancy and saw NOTHING but excellent treatment of all wildlife. He took special pride in his Lion's, some which he saved from killing by local's who had snared them, paying expensive fees to the locals in lieu of killing the cats. While on site, I personally darted one male that required immediate medical attention due to a mauling by Lioness's. Mr Sparrow did have plans to build a resort community overlooking a huge lake adjoining his property. His employee's exhibited nothing but eager willingness to work and have a job, and they too took pride in caring for the well fed Lion's. I saw no action, or insinuation that any of these Lion's were being sold to anyone. Just my humble opinion of the man and his animals. These "hoods and gangsters" were attempting to overtake Ron's home and farm when I was there in 2007. I see they've succeeded. Where ever Ronnie is at this moment, I wish he and his family nothing but the best.
Regards,
LDK

Thank you Bill

Dave , Ron and his family are safe.

Now, all of his employees and their familes , women , children , orphans ..what happens!!?? makes me sick to my stomach!

You saw his operation first hand and you know the true story here.

Dave, you are aware of what my father does for a living. thousands depend on him. take away his right to feed and provide for the community as is the case with Ron Sparrow and what do you have?

There is a bigger picture here...

Cheers

Arnold
Impala African Safaris
apayne@impalasafaris.com
480 558 6932