Wildlife Now Component of Land Reform


The Herald (Harare)
[The Herald is a state controlled paper, i.e., it's propaganda - T.Carr]
June 7, 2004


WILDLIFE will now be promoted as a legitimate option for using land redistributed under land reform following a new Government policy, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, has said.

Poachers had mistakenly assumed that acquired land would not be used for wildlife and had slaughtered game recklessly during the first 18 months of the fast-track land reform. [As if it makes a difference to poachers - T.Carr].

"The major objective of the policy is to address the need for more equitable access by the majority of Zimbabweans to land and wildlife resources and to business opportunities that stem from these resources," said the minister. [Mugabe's cronies want the forex that hunting provides - T.Carr].

Cde Nhema was speaking on Thursday in Parliament in response to concerns raised by the portfolio committee on Mines, Energy, Environment and Tourism on the impact of land reform on wildlife production.

"While cases of poaching continue at a low level, there is evidence of stability returning on game ranches with new settlers successfully reconstituting conservancies, as in the case with Gwayi River Conservancy," he said.

Cde Nhema attributed the reduction in poaching to the combination of a vigorous extension campaign, enhanced anti-poaching efforts and empowerment of new farmers through the provision of quotas. [Poaching would naturally decline when there is nothing left to poach - T.Carr].

Wildlife-based land reform will contribute to the equity of a range of stakeholders, including neighbouring communities, while ensuring that the stakeholders share costs and benefits from wildlife production.

The most profitable and ecologically sustainable land use option will be allowed to evolve in response to changing economic influences, notwithstanding the need to ensure food security. [Land too poor to grow crops is better suited for wildlife management. Funny, I think someone else had already figured that out - T.Carr].

The policy encourages working together rather than competition between different sectors of the wildlife industry and various forms of land use. Wildlife confers on Zimbabwe a unique comparative economic advantage, with the potential to sustain viable domestic and foreign tourism markets.



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Leopard Hunts Expected to Benefit Poor Communities

BuaNews (Pretoria)

June 7, 2004


Limpopo has called for applications to hunt and kill 35 leopards after being given 35 tags from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The proceeds from seven of the 35 hunts are expected to go to poor communities.

"This industry generates a lot of money, and we hope to benefit the communities around reserves and farms that have leopards," said hunting Regulations Manager Abraham Matsila.

Hunting outfitters that organise the hunts will have to provide a plan showing how they will spend the money they make from the hunters, on the communities.

"They'll have to visit the community to see what the community needs. Some may need classrooms, clinics or maybe a home for orphaned children," he said.

He said the department would only issue the hunting permits if the community projects were feasible.

The department will advise hunters as to which communities they should try help.

"Some communities are troubled by leopards, so this will be a win-win situation because a troublesome leopard will be killed, the community will benefit and someone will have a trophy," said Mr Matsila.

Fifteen of the remaining 28 leopards that will be hunted will be on land of more than 8 000 hectares, while 13 leopards will be on land of 8 000 hectares or less.

Limpopo accounts for 63 percent of all hunting in the country and the department hopes to draw more black people into the industry.

At the moment, there are less than 20 professional black hunters in Limpopo and no black hunting outfitters, safari operators or game farmers.

"If black people see how big this industry is, and how much they can benefit from it, then maybe they will join in," said Mr Matsila.

Limpopo currently has 2,000 trophy clients on record, including overseas trophy hunters who visit the province annually and pay a fortune to hunt wild animals.

One of the highest prices recorded is R181 000 to hunt an elephant.

Over 14 000 animals are hunted each hunting season between the cooler months of May and September.

Animals mostly hunted are the Southern Greater Kudu, Southern Impala, Common Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Klipspringer, Limpopo Bushbuck and Eland. Once killed, their heads are usually mounted for display on the hunters' walls.


Regards,

Terry

Ooooooh, with commentary. That is unlike you.

It never ceases to amaze me at their logic or interpretation of reality.

You guys should be pretty happy Mugabe hasn't banned hunting as the white man's pastime! Sure it makes a lot of money, but so did commercial farming and that sure didn't stop him! It sounds like things are rough over there, but they could be a lot worse (read: 20 yr African style civil war)...

Will,

You will be surprised of the number of people who look at things in a very simple way.

They only look at how much money is being paid by the client, never for a second try to work out how much has to be paid for actually setting up and being able to conduct a hunt.