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Zimbabwe: Save Conservancy Affected By Indigenisation
BY HERBERT MOYO, 25 APRIL 2014


GOVERNMENT'S delay in finalising the modalities of its controversial indigenisation programme in the Save Conservancy is affecting the lucrative tourism and trophy hunting business operations.

Widely regarded as the richest and largest private wildlife sanctuary in the world, Save Conservancy is a huge attraction for tourists and professional hunters, especially from western countries who pay thousands of dollars for trophy hunting.

Wilfried Pabst, a German investor who is also vice-chairperson of the conservancy said that the long-drawn out negotiations over the modalities of implementing the indigenisation programme is negatively impacting operations.

"The pace of the talks is far too slow and as a result we have been forced to cancel safari tours until the issue is resolved. Foreign-owned businesses are protected but we are talking about safari operators who are white Zimbabweans. They are being forced to turn away foreign visitors who want to hunt," said Pabst.

He said the issuance of hunting licences was tied up with the resolution of the indigenisation issue.

The conservancy is located in Masvingo and covers 845 044 acres (342 123 square kms). It was founded in 1991 and is co-owned by groups of foreign and local whites as well as black Zimbabweans who control hunting and manage it to protect the endangered wildlife that includes elephants, rhinos and buffalo.

Since its establishment, the conservancy has been run in partnership with the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority.

The indigenisation of the conservancy is targeted at properties owned by white Zimbabweans as foreign owned properties are protected under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (Bippas) signed by Zimbabwe and various European Union governments.

Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere said government is looking at "finalising the matter very soon because the Save Conservancy has been an issue for too long."

He said that it was the government's intention to see the conservancy running as smoothly as before.

Kasukuwere said the indigenisation plans were targeting white Zimbabweans only. He said the plan was to ensure black Zimbabweans acquire at least 51% stake in the conservancy.

"The indigenisation is going ahead," said Kasukuwere, adding that, "the on-going discussions are basically about the inclusion of the rural communities who live in the areas surrounding the conservancy. Foreign owned properties will not be affected as they are protected under investment laws but those of local whites will be. We want to develop the conservancies into first class facilities that the whole world can enjoy."

Kasukuwere said that apart from economically empowering black Zimbabweans involving them will also boost wildlife conservation efforts as they will have an incentive to protect animals rather than hunt them down.

There has been a stand-off between government and property owners in the conservancy since 2012 when senior Zanu PF heavyweights and military officials invaded and took over safari properties.

President Robert Mugabe condemned the invasions, describing his officials as "greedy" but they still remain on the properties.

Among the officials who invaded the conservancy were the late former Minister of Higher Education Stan Mudenge, Major General Engelbert Rugeje, former deputy minister Shuvai Mahofa and former Masvingo provincial governor Titus Maluleke.

In a brief emailed response EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Del ariccia said "the Save Conservancy issue is a very long story, still far from being solved."

http://www.worldbulletin.net/t...e-wildlife-sanctuary



Zimbabwe to 'indigenize' private wildlife sanctuary

Save Conservancy is a major attraction for tourists and hunters and is co-owned by foreigners, local whites and black Zimbabweans.
World Bulletin / News Desk


The Zimbabwean government has decided to "indigenize" the Save Conservancy, widely regarded as the world's largest private nature preserve, two years after the multi-million dollar wildlife sanctuary – in which many E.U. nationals have business interests – was invaded by top ruling party officials.
"Indigenization is going ahead," Saviour Kasukuwere, Zimbabwe's minister for environment, water and climate, confirmed in a phone interview with Anadolu Agency.
"The ongoing discussions are basically about the inclusion of the rural communities who live in the areas surrounding the conservancy," he said.
Save Conservancy is a major attraction for tourists and professional hunters, especially from western countries, who pay thousands of dollars for the chance to see – or hunt – the wild animals living there.
Located in central Zimbabwe's arid Masvingo province, the preserve covers an area of some 3400 square kilometers.
The conservancy was founded in 1991. It is co-owned by groups of foreign and local whites, as well as black Zimbabweans who regulate the hunting and protect endangered wildlife such as elephants, rhinos and buffalo.
Since its establishment, the conservancy has been managed in partnership with Zimbabwe's state-run Agriculture and Rural Development Authority.
"We want to develop the conservancies into first-world facilities that the whole world can enjoy," said Minister Kasukuwere.
He added that, apart from economically empowering black Zimbabweans, involving them in the park's operations would also boost wildlife conservation efforts, as they would have an incentive to protect animals rather than hunt them.
The minister stressed that only those properties owned by white Zimbabweans would be affected by the indigenization policy, which seeks to grant black Zimbabweans a minimum 51-percent stake in the conservancy.
"Foreign-owned properties will not be affected as they are protected under investment laws, but those [properties] of local whites will be," he said.
Property held by foreigners is protected from appropriation by the state under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) signed by Zimbabwe and various E.U. governments.
White Zimbabweans already lost their commercial farms when President Robert Mugabe's government embarked on its controversial land reform program in 2000 – ostensibly aimed at redressing colonial-era injustices by giving land to disadvantaged black Zimbabweans.
The government, however, has been criticized locally and internationally for appropriating land and giving it to party leaders and loyalists.
As a result, the E.U. imposed "restrictive measures" on Zimbabwe, banned Mugabe and ruling party officials from travelling to E.U. member states, froze their assets, and banned European firms from doing business with companies linked to the Zimbabwean government.
Standoff
Wilfried Pabst, a German investor who is also vice-chairman of the conservancy, confirmed that the managers of the nature preserve were currently engaged in negotiations with Minister Kasukuwere over application of the indigenization policy.
"About 35 percent of the conservancy is foreign-owned; this will not be affected by the indigenization," Pabst told AA by phone from his base in South Africa. "Another 34 percent will not be affected, because it's already in indigenous hands."
But he bemoaned the slow pace of the talks, saying they were negatively impacting business – especially that of white Zimbabweans, whose properties are the subject of the negotiations.
"The pace of talks is far too slow. As a result, we've been forced to cancel safari tours until the issue is resolved," Pabst said.
"Foreign-owned businesses are protected," the German investor explained. "But we're talking about safari operators who are white Zimbabweans who are being forced to turn away foreign visitors who want to hunt animals because they cannot be given hunting licenses until the issue is resolved."
He noted that Germany and the E.U. were both helping capacitate the country's national parks with a view to bolstering conservation efforts.
In commenting on the issue, E.U. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Del Ariccia was terse: "The Save Conservancy issue is a very long story, still far from being solved," he told AA.
There has been an ongoing standoff between the government and property owners in the conservancy since 2012, when certain senior officials of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) invaded the preserve, took over some properties, and poached endangered species.
At the time, President Mugabe condemned the invasion, describing the intruding party officials as "greedy" – but they nevertheless remain on the property to this day.
These top party and government officials had included then Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge (who died last year) and former deputy minister Shuvai Mahofa, who managed to grab property in what was termed the "Wild life-based Land Reform."
Mudenge was given a lease on the 16,507-hectare Senuko 2 Ranch; Mahofa the 5526-hectare Savuli Ranch. Former Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke, meanwhile, got the 3388-hectare Hammond Ranch.
MPs Ronald Ndava and Ailess Baloyi, for their part, got the 11,736-hectare Bedford Ranch and the 6886-hectare Humani Ranch, respectively.
Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, who had been a vocal critic of the 2012 invasion of Save Conservancy by ZANU-PF officials, declined to comment on the issue.

The government does not consider whites to be "native" Zimbabwaens. They were born there, lived there all their life; it doesn't matter. It's purely a racial play against whites.

Zimbabwe is a lawless country. The law is what a policeman tells you or what the government decides today. If they decide something else tomorrow, that will be the law.

quote:

Zimbabwe is a lawless country. The law is what a policeman tells you or what the government decides today. If they decide something else tomorrow, that will be the law.

Are you talking about Zimbabwe or the U.S.?

Point taken and no dispute.

Planning to head there in June - is this impacting planned trips?

This sucks - they will of course waste beaucoup $$$, ruin some people's livelihoods, and screw with the fauna in the process - no Win.

http://www.swradioafrica.com/2...eans-in-save-valley/



Kasukuwere targets white Zimbabweans in Save Valley
Posted by Alex Bell on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in Indigenisation


By Alex Bell
SW Radio Africa
29 April 2014

Former Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has reportedly stated that only white Zimbabweans will be required to comply with ZANU PF’s indigenisation laws, as part of plans to ‘indigenise’ the Save Valley Conservancy.

Kasukuwere, who is now the Environment Minister in the new government, was quoted by the Cairo based news group Anadolu Agency, as saying that indigenisation is going ahead at Save Valley Conservancy.

“The ongoing discussions are basically about the inclusion of the rural communities who live in the areas surrounding the conservancy,” he was quoted as saying.

The minister stressed that only those properties owned by white Zimbabweans would be affected by the controversial indigenisation policy, which was originally meant to force foreign owned firms to give black Zimbabweans a minimum 51-percent stake in their shareholding. But in the Save Valley Conservancy, foreign owned properties will be protected.

“Foreign-owned properties will not be affected as they are protected under investment laws, but those [properties] of local whites will be,” Kasukuwere said.

National Parks in 2012 issued hunting permits to 25 so-called indigenous ‘farmers’ who were given land in the Conservancy under the government’s ‘wildlife based land reform’ exercise. The permits followed an invasion of the Conservancy by top ZANU PF officials, who were also beneficiaries of 25-year land leases in conservancies throughout the Masvingo province.

This included war vets leader Joseph Chinotimba, Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, Major General Engelbert Rugeje, Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, then ZANU PF Masvingo provincial chair Lovemore Matuke, then Deputy Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora, ZANU PF’s central committee member Enock Porusingazi, as well as ZANU PF MPs Alois Baloyi, Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri and Noel Mandebvu.

Former Chegutu farmer Ben Freeth told SW Radio Africa that the situation exposes that the indigenisation campaign is nothing more than “a discrimination program taking place, on the basis of the colour of your skin.”

“It is very sad that just because you have a different colour skin that you are being targeted and you land and homes are given, to a large extent, to the chefs, to the people who are powerful in the party (ZANU PF),” Freeth said.

He added: “It is straight discrimination that goes against every human rights charter ever written.”

Freeth and his late father in law Mike Campbell led and won a landmark court case against Robert Mugabe and the land grab campaign. The SADC human rights tribunal ruled that the campaign was unlawful and inherently racist. That ruling, which still stands, has never been honoured or acknowledged by the ZANU PF government and instead the Tribunal has been hamstrung for daring to rule against Mugabe.

“(ZANU PF) have shown themselves to be people who will go against the law in any way, through murder, through genocide. This kind of discrimination is part of the way they have operated for a long time,” Freeth said.

He added that white Zimbabweans and their property and their rights are not protected anymore in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe’s constitution and courts do not allow white Zimbabweans to protect themselves. And it is sad for the whole country,” Freeth said.

To contact this reporter email alex@swradioafrica.com or follow on Twitter

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Zimbabwe: Germany Envoy Vents Save Conservancy Frustration
1 MAY 2014



GERMANY'S ambassador to Zimbabwe has expressed frustration over Save Conservancy, a multi-million dollar wildlife sanctuary in which European Union nationals have business interests, but has since been invaded by top Zanu PF officials

Ambassador Ulrich Klockner said the dispute over control of the sanctuary where German investor Wilfried Pabst is vice chairman, was "taking much of my time (which) I would like to spend engaging in positive projects aimed at helping revive the (Zimbabwe's) ailing economy".

Germany has strong partnerships with the Bulawayo and Norton local authorities where it is assisting in the rehabilitation of water and energy infrastructure.

The EU member state plans to extend the cooperation to other towns such as Harare and Redcliff in the Midlands after local authorities there recently approached its Harare embassy appealing for assistance.

However, in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Ambassador Klockner said, since his arrival in Zimbabwe late last year, he has been spending much of his time convincing compatriots with investments in the country that their assets were safe.

The envoy said this was "not healthy" as he would want to concentrate on projects that improve the country's economy.

"We should be concentrating on how can we solve the energy problem, how can we get business rather than just travelling around the country trying to calm some citizens who are afraid that they might lose what they worked on for 50 years," said the envoy.

His remarks come after the government insisted that it would not to reverse its decision to indigenise the wildlife conservancy which was last year invaded by top Zanu PF officials, sparking threats of aid cut by the EU.

The conservancy is a major attraction for tourists and professional hunters, especially from western countries, who pay thousands of dollars for the chance to see - or hunt - the wild animals living there.

Located in the arid Masvingo province, the preserve covers an area of some 3400 square kilometers.

Founded in 1991, it is co-owned by groups of foreign and local whites, as well as black Zimbabweans who regulate the hunting and protect endangered wildlife such as elephants, rhinos and buffalo.

Since its establishment, the conservancy has been managed in partnership with Zimbabwe's state-run Agriculture and Rural Development Authority.

Saviour Kasukuwere, minister for environment, insisted that indigenisation of the sanctuary would go ahead.

He said apart from economically empowering black Zimbabweans, involving them in the park's operations would also boost wildlife conservation efforts, as they would have an incentive to protect animals rather than hunt them.

Kasukuwere however, stressed that only those properties owned by white Zimbabweans would be affected by the indigenisation policy, which seeks to grant black Zimbabweans a minimum 51-percent stake in the conservancy.

"Foreign-owned properties will not be affected as they are protected under investment laws, but those [properties] of local whites will be," he said.

Property held by foreigners is protected from appropriation by the state under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) signed by Zimbabwe and various E.U. governments.

It is solved already, it is dead! even when Mugabe goes, one of his ilk will continue. Africa is no longer a place for the white man! Our Canada is filled with wonderful South
African doctors because Africa spurns the whites. It is sad, it is heart breaking but it is fact as I see it.