Parks Auction Raises $13bn


The Herald (Harare)
March 15, 2005


THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority last week raised $13 billion from the Zambezi Valley hunting camps auction held in the capital.

The figure is more than double the $5,8 billion realised last year.

Nyakasanga and Sapi areas constitute the Zambezi Valley hunting camps.

"The auction involves hunting bags, that is the number of selected animals available for hunting during that hunting period and each hunting bag is expected to last between 10-14 days," Parks public relations manager Mr Edward Mbewe said.

He said proceeds from the auction would be used to support anti-poaching activities and to finance some of the authority's projects.

This year a variety of animals were sold in single hunting bag unlike last year when they were sold individually with male lions fetching the highest price of $100 million. At $2,7 million, warthogs fetched the lowest price.

In 2003, the authority raised less than $1 billion at the auction. The decline was largely attributed to reduced tourist arrivals which created a trough in hunting activities, particularly from international tourists.

This year's auction was also propelled by local safari operators and buyers, unlike last year when only operators from Italy, the United States and South Africa took part.

Zimbabwe is a prime target for hunters owing to its rich variety of wildlife, particularly the "big five" - notably elephant and lion.

The Zambezi Valley auction is held every year in March to generate revenue for the authority.

Is there any way to find out what the prices were for each species in the indivdual areas?

Sadly the whole thing was a bit of a farce- Out of Africa bought most of Nyakasanga and Paul Smith and Andy Dawson bought all of Sapi. As this is a foreign exchange externalisation plan whith, in fact three different exchange rates applying depending on how well you work the system it is very difficult to work out what was actually paid. For instance elephant went for 20-25K (at the official exchange rate of Z$6200: 1 US. If you don't export the trophies and changed your money on the black market at 14000:1 then an ele would have cost arround 8500-9500 mark. If you intend to export the trophies but had a pile of spare Zim dollars to throw down at the auction and can work delaying putting the hard currency down until after the hunt then I recon an Ele will have cost Dawson arround US12000.

Ganyana - at $12K, prices were more then was expected, as Parks is now charging $8500 for an elephant (right?) elsewhere. At least the money is going to "The Good Guys" at the Parks Department. Sorry to hear about how Nyakasanga went down, but I guess this was "legal" as they will have Zim PH's conduct the hunts....and there was nothing Parks could do to prevent it.

Does anyone have the contact details of the auctioneers? Perriera (splg?) I think if it has not changed.

Ian Ferreria is out of it - doing the auctions of the forestry hunting areas only this year

call 263-4-750-342, fax is 263-4-790-006

The new parks Auctioneers are a retired police commisioner, Desired Liason Auctioneers. Since they have had four very different business adresses in the last year... We used them once before (in '97) and that was also a farce... Perhaps next year we will go back to Ian