Zambia pays no compensation for victims killed by wild animals

LUSAKA, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Zambian tourism minister Kabinga Pande has said he cannot give assurance about bringing amendments to parliament to allow the compensation for the victims of human-wildlife conflict, reported The Post daily Monday.

Pande was responding to a question from a parliament member after delivering to the parliament a ministerial statement on human wildlife conflict.

He said while the loss of life is regretted, current legislation does not provide for compensation.

The minister blamed the co-existence of wildlife and people for what has resulted in the conflicts, saying that his country has recorded an increase in the fatalities as a result of these conflicts.

Between January and August in 2005, a total of 2,811 human wildlife conflicts reports were received, compared to 1,124 in the same period of 2004.

"The most problematic animals in as far as human fatalities were concerned are crocodiles, hippos and elephants," said Pande.

The minister said Zambia Wildlife Authority intends to deploy wildlife control hunters who will in turn train members of affected communities in wildlife control hunting.

Stories of elephants invading people and destroying their crops have been the order of day in most rural parts of Zambia for years.Enditem

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Originally posted by Kathi:
Zambia pays no compensation for victims killed by wild animals

My question is, why should Zambia pay anyone who is hurt or killed by a wild animal? That's AFRICA, wild animals have been killing people, and each other for thousands of years. It is simply part of the circle of life! If I were killed by a big Buffalo, I haunt my wife if she sued Zambia for compensation!

IMHO ( in this case) third world style democracy is far superior to our so called first world democracy where the legal system has gone full circle and can actually penalise the innocent taxpayer for matters beyond his control. Maybe we in the West can learn a bit from these undeveloped countries and regig our legal system so only the guilty perpetrators pay the cost not the innocent !!!

Peter

They could sell more PAC hunts at a good rate
and use part of the fee to help the affected village. Naaa! Too easy.

As usual the animals "belong" to the government as long as they can make money off of them. As soon as the animal is a problem the government has no reponsibility