Authority gets participant observer status

By Isdore Guvamombe
NATIONAL Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is now a participant observer in the hunting safari industry after successfully launching a $1,1 billion hunting venture at Matetsi Five Safari near Victoria Falls.

The money-spinning project, which is being used as a yardstick to monitor private hunting concessions in the country, will enable the authority to effectively thwart the leaks in earned foreign currency.

Scores conservancy operators, working in cahoots with unscrupulous local and foreign professional hunters have been milking the country of foreign currency earned from hunting by under-declaring their proceeds.

At a meeting held at Matetsi Five Safari at the weekend, about 100 km south west of Victoria Falls, chairman of the Matetsi taskforce, Dr Stanely Sakupwanya, said the project would now effectively give the authority the knowledge about what happens in the hunting industry.

"We decided to the embark on this project after we realised that to get the inside story about what happens in this industry we needed to participate.

"As we speak hunting has started and we now know what happens and all those who have been lying to us can no longer do that because we know. This time, no one will cheat us.

"In the past conservancy operators lied to the authority and under-declared their foreign currency earnings and no one in the authority had the inside story,�� said Dr Sakupwanya.

Matetsi Five is part of the Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe�s virgin forest which provides a perfect spectacle of the jungle to hunters with lions roaring, zebras frolicking and elephants wantonly destroying any vegetation that disturb their way.

It is Zimbabwe�s prime hunting area, which is awash with the "Big Five" and has over the years continued to attract scores of professional hunters from as far afield as America, Hungary and Russia.

However, several conservancy operators and hunters have been abusing the facilities and under-declaring earned foreign currency to the Government.

"From our experience since we started in April, we now know that one 10-day hunt can generate as much as US$40 000 yet some hunters have been declaring as little as $2 million the whole year.

"This time we will not be cheated because we are involved,�� added Dr Sakupwanya.

However, there have been spirited manoeuvres to sabotage the project by former white conservancy operators working in cahoots with other black operators who fear that the authority will now be able to tighten screws and block their clandestine dealings.

The worried operators have gone to the Internet and the private media to discredit the authority in order to stop it from investigating their dealings.

"We are not worried about the Mafia type operations that the dealers are afraid of because we want the nation to benefit,�� said Dr Sakupwanya.

The chairman of the authority�s board, Dr Donald Mtobi, also attended the meeting and other senior parks officials.

Perhaps just one more reason among many to steer clear of Zimbabwe, Kathi. Thanks for keeping us informed.

I've hunyed on unit 5 for the past 4 years over 100 days. The operator took such good care of that land it was getting better every year. I personally signed all the NP-9 forms and they declaired all the $$$ I payed them amounting to well into the 6-figure range. The govt simply wouldnt renew their lease this year,they had it for 5 years. This is just another case of the BS that is destroying Zim.

They refer to the foreign currency as if they own it....it belongs to the safari operator. Now whether he chooses to keep some of it offshore is another question, that's all about confidence in the country. In civilized countries run by stable governments who have the people's interests at heart, there is no crisis of confidence and no need for offshore accounts, exchange control legislation, and of course there is no dual exchange rate.

One other point: Since they just nationalized all the game ranches, there is no foreign currency flowing to the previous owners.

I suppose the honorary members of Mr. Mugabe's administration have never heard of Switzerland?

What a crock. I am afraid there is only one solution for a country hijacked by a political mafia: a military invasion followed by Nuremberg-style trials. Mr. Mbeki, step up to the plate.

"..."We are not worried about the Mafia type operations that the dealers are afraid of because [we want the nation to benefit]�� said Dr Sakupwanya..."

Forget about the "Mafia type".

Now you are dealing with the REAL Mafia!

What a bloody shame. A great country, ruined by another tin pot dictator installed by the politicians

What bunch of clowns (ie the mouthpieces in the article).

They really think they suddenly "know-it-all" just because they are running a concession !!!???

It will be interesting to see how long this "perfect spectacle of jungle" (my god what a description!) lasts, and what standard is offered to clients seeing what the management appears to be.

All they seem to be worried about is chasing down other outfitters, exposing forex "scams" (ie the people that earn it want some for themselves ). Maybe they should think more about managing the concession, hiring capable PHs, attracting paying clients, providing service and quality hunting and getting repeat business. That's what I would be more concerned with.

However the article strongly sounds like it comes from Mugabes propaganda mouthpiece "The Herald" so what can one expect in terms of journalism from its hacks.

Matetsi Unit five ended up in Park's hands because Roy Vincent and his Son (Ganyana Safaris - no relation to me) were too principaled to take on a corupt political partner who could get the lease rolled.

Next problem was that every thieving SOB in the politburo wanted the area, so Mick Townsend on the parks board came up with the bright idea of letting parks run it so they would learn something about the industry they are trying to regulate.

Been an almost virticle learning "curve" for the department!!!!. Have had to get HHK in to market and suply most of the PH's. The camp manager is a dam fine man. David Mpungu is a top class parks officer and the chairman of the PH examinations committee. He is doing a wonderful job under the circumstances. Some of the parks PH's are very good. David and Lovemore Mongwashu being by far the best. Some are OK and the rest - well thats why HHK is supplying the men and making sure there is food and beer and fuel in the camp!

Good theory, has kept the political wolves and underhand South African operators out but... This is Africa.

I have hunted with Roy since 1982 - when his son Alan was a little toddler.

Both are two of the most honest, and principled people I have had the pleasure of knowing.

We consider them as part of our family.

Alan is coming with us to Tanzania to do the video for us, as he usually does every year since 1994, and do some hunting himself too. And when I found that Roy has lost his conecession, I asked him if he wished to join us in Tanzania.

Of course he jumped on the idea, as he said any chance he can get to make Walter's life miserable is fine by him.

Especially as Pierre is going to be conducting the hunt, and he can devote all his time to this new found pleasure.

He said he wanted to pay Walter back for 11 years of what he has been doing to HIM