Safari operators commended

Sunday News Reporter

THE hunting industry managed to survive the sanctions onslaught unlike the other sectors of the economy in the last 10 years because foreign hunters were not worried about the negative perceptions circulated by the foreign media, the Minister of Environment, Cde Francis Nhema, has said.


In an interview in Bulawayo yesterday on the sidelines of Safari Operations Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) annual general meeting, Cde Nhema said hunters interested in Zimbabwe’s game were concerned about the hunting standards and nothing else.
“There were travel warnings, but hunters still could not resist Zimbabwe because they were aware of the true situation in the country. Credit should also go to wildlife safari operators who worked tirelessly to maintain the high standards in the industry despite the economic challenges which threatened to destroy the industry,” he said.
Cde Nhema revealed that the wildlife hunting industry contributed five percent to the country’s 2008 Gross Domestic Industry (GDP).
“Five percent is a significant amount in economic terms and that goes to prove that this industry can generate the much needed foreign currency for the country. As Government, we urge the hunting industry to increase that percentage and I am glad that the wildlife hunting stakeholders have set a target of 15 percent for 2009.
“That will require us to revive all wildlife properties and fighting poaching and the illegal sale of hides and ivory. We also need to go into wildlife farming so that our precious game is not depleted or worse made extinct. Despite these challenges, we will soldier on and we will grow from strength to strength,” he said.
Cde Nhema said that the economic turnaround programme was everyone’s business and that there was a need to work tirelessly and to vigorously market the country as a world class tourism destination as that would benefit the sport hunting industry and the economy as a whole.
Cde Nhema, who was the guest of honour also told SOAZ members that they should work with his ministry to improve the industry so as to avoid unnecessary problems.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) vice-chairman, Mr Genius Maphosa, apologised for the arrest of SOAZ members last year as a result of their failure to pay foreign currency levies.
Mr Maphosa distanced ZTA from the saga and said ZTA did not have a hand in the arrests as perceived by SOAZ.
“There was no need for your arrest as I believe that case was a civil matter. ZTA is aware of the suffering you went through and the trauma that it had on your families. We are sorry,” he said.
Commenting on the issue Cde Nhema said SOAZ should realise that the Government was there to support it and as such, the Government was its friend.
“As your minister, I am not your enemy but your last defender in any controversy that you find yourself in. I did not see any logic in the arrests, they were unwarranted. Never ever think that I am not on your side. If you have problems in future come to me and I will address them.”