Killing jumbo now $ 15,000
SUKHDEV CHHATBAR in Dodoma
Daily News; Thursday,July 26, 2007 @00:02

THE government has raised game hunting fees this fiscal year as part of efforts to boost revenue from tourism and ensure greater contribution of the sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), currently standing at 17 per cent only.

Tabling the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources budget estimates for 2007/8 in the National Assembly here yesterday, the Minister, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, said that the new rates were aimed at aligning the fees with the rest of the 14- member SADC states, of which Tanzania is a founding member.

"Under the new fees, hunting a lion or a leopard, for example, will cost $12,000 (about 12.5million/-) compared to the previous dollars 2,500(about 3m/-)," he said.

The licence to kill a jumbo will now be dollars 15,000 instead of dollars 5,000 whereas a crocodile will cost dollars 2,500 instead of dollars 1,050 previously.

"The rates for leasing hunting blocs have been raised from dollars 10,000(near parks --category A) to dollars 50,000 and dollars 40,000 for blocs near forests(category B) per annum. The amendments are expected to raise the income from 11bn/- last year to $33bn/- this year," said Mr Maghembe.

Prof. Maghembe said plans were underway to prepare new General Management Plans (GMP) for some selected forests, adding that Usangu forests would be merged with the Ruaha Park , to create Africa's second biggest park with 22,226 square kilometres.

The ministry will bring bills to establish Mkomazi Park and another park on Saanane Island, near Mwanza on Lake Victoria.

To increase efficiency in park fees collection, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) will introduce system of payment through credit cards. The CRDB and Exim banks have been engaged to ensure verification and collection of payments.

The minister added that the government's determination to attract 1.2 million tourists by 2012 was on course, saying that massive publicity and marketing drive was underway to promote Tanzania's world famous attractions. About 600,000 tourists, mainly from the western countries visited the country last year.

Prof. Maghembe said a Bill on wildlife regulations was being prepared to allow establishments of ranches , zoos and a law on commercialisation of live animals.

The government also plans to increase price of logs by at least 30 per cent to match with the global market price. The increase will fetch the government 45bn/- from the current 11bn/-.

He said the ban on exports of timber remained intact and that all those involved in smuggling are being dealt with at appropriate levels.

The ministry is also working out ways of reviving the beekeeping industry and the first step towards that goal was the re-establishment of the Beekeeping College in Tabora.

About 400m/- has been set aside in the budget to rehabilitate the college's buildings.

quote:

The minister added that the government's determination to attract 1.2 million tourists by 2012 was on course, saying that massive publicity and marketing drive was underway to promote Tanzania's world famous attractions. About 600,000 tourists, mainly from the western countries visited the country last year.

Yes, it was on course.

Even if they get this year sorted out, the government has sent a loud and clear message to those of us planning trips to Africa in the next few years. "We can do what we want, when we want, and to whomever we want, regardless of what problems this causes".

And people are worried about getting robbed during their time in Africa - a thief is a piker compared to someone taking double or triple your safari fees.

That wildcard of changing rates for booked hunts will haunt them for a while.

I am scheduled to leave for a 21 day safari in Tanzania in 9 days. Assuming that the trip takes place (and I am assuming little at this point), this new fee structure will change what I do. I've shot 3 lions previously and planned to only take one if he is very good. Well, that is changing. It'll be a damned great lion before I make a $12,000 dollar trigger pull. What I should do is take pictures of the lions I pass up and send them to that idiot minister. No more shooting impalas for camp rations.

This whole affair smells like what Kenya did back in '77, when it cancelled all hunting while safaris were actually in the field.

The effects of this nonsense will be dramatic. If I weren't already paid up, I certainly wouldn't go. The number of bookings for the next several years will plummet. Idiots.

There is still hope!

Apparently, the Annual Budget debate is made up of 2 session; The core budget and supplementary budget sessions
1- The Minister of Finance speech in June was the Core budget session and is "written in stone".
2- The supplementary budget session is what our dear professor has just presented. This is "debatable" in parliament and CAN be ammended! this is the last glimmer of hope.....

TAHOA is not waiting around though and will press for the injunction. I don't know what to tell those of you that are just about to start! Discuss and negotiate with your outfitter....

I am reminded of a ranch I have hunted in south Texas. It used to have as an aside from the regular hunts you could hunt hogs for 100. They sold on average 16-20 hogs a year above their regular hunts. On year they decided they were leaving money on the table and jacked it up to 400. The next year they sold no hogs. Instead of increasing the revenues 400% they made revenues 0. Did they end up leaving money on the table? What do you think? D

D, was there an estimate of the damage caused by the not take hogs.

quote: Professor Jumanne Maghembe

Let's see if I can unscramble this through the smoke and mirrors....Maghembe....M, a, g,...b, and e. Ah yes, I left out the African translation of h and e together..it is an "a." M-a-g-a-b-e....YES, I have it! The fine professor is actually Uncle Bob's brother! Now I see the real picture

quote:

On year they decided they were leaving money on the table and jacked it up to 400. The next year they sold no hogs.

Just a case of bad marketing. They should have done it the Tanzanian way and told you about the increase after you had several dead hogs on the ground!