The comment below that I copied from the African travel forum. I am set to leave in 3 weeks and this kind of thing makes me a bit nervous........


"The only hunting-related development that gives us pause is a report that Zimbabwe Reserve Bank officials backed up by state secret police have been raiding offices this week of all safari operators, going through their books and arresting most of them over agents' commissions. The reserve bank is insisting that the maximum an agent may charge is 10 percent, and the operators must repatriate all the hard currency that the agents have kept above that percentage dating back to 1998. We understand some of the in-office confrontations have been tense. The money-grab, which on the face of it appears impossible to implement, is indicative of the economic desperation that appears to have set in."

Thanks.....

While I was in Zimbabwe last month, it is my understanding that Reserve Bank "officials" were "visiting" hunting camps and checking to see if the clients had any Zim currency for which they could not present proof of exchange at the official rate. I went to a bank and (in effect) gave away $100 U.S. so that I would have a receipt for the Zim script I carry to use for incidentals. We went through two road blocks and no one ever asked me for anything and in fact just eyeballed us and sent us along with a smile.

I wouldn't trade any U.S. for black market Zim money for any reason, particularly if someone is liable to ask me where I got the money and I have no proof of legal acquisition.

Some Zim operators, expecting a development like that which you quote, have made partnerships with U.S. "owners" and now ask that you deposit all funds with the U.S. partner instead of bring any of the payment with you... even to the point of depositing trophy fee money in advance.

I was also told that there was an attempt to hold Zim operators to a rule that required them to pay all fees, etc. within three days of completion of a safari or suffer fines. I guess that is because the operators were holding on to dollars that would appreciate against the Zimbabwe currency, then they would pay gov't fees at the depreciated "official" rate with Zim dollars that they bought on the black market with the then appreciated U.S. bucks.

Who knows?

I can confirm at least a part of this. I am still trying to get my taxidermy back to the US from a 2005 Zim trip. The taxidermist in Zim told me last week that my shipment is being held up awaiting paperwork from the safari operator. I followed up with my PH who confirmed only today (April 6) that the safari operator has had his files confiscated by the Reserve. Things appear to be a mess. I will post more when I learn substantive facts.

This is not "new" news. It is my understanding that the offices of many Zim operators have been raided in the last several weeks. I was told in fact that the Chifuti offices in Harare were raided and computers were confiscated some time last month.

If there is one thing I've learned the last couple of years about Zim operators it is they they always seem to find a way to keep on keeping on. Toughest bastards I've ever met. My hat is off to them.

Zim Taxidermists included.

Bwana

There are alot of problems...but. The Chairman of SOAZ- Jacob Mudenda did a masterful job of tying the reserve bank into little knots and operators have been promissed that the reserve bank will back off...They are still checking every safari operator but looked very foolish when it was pointed out to them that their legislation said total cost safari not just daily rates.

In all things- make sure you have seen the completed TR2 form and sign it. Ask for a copy if you are unsure. 99% of all delays in shipping trophies is because the PH and or operator failed to fill in the TR2 correctly. Easy to do- I have buggered it up myself before today! And I am one of the PH's that finished high school (most didn't ).

Moral- check your own paperwork

Ganyana,
It shouldn't be the responsibility of the hunter to check any paperwork. 99% of all hunters don't have a clue as to what paperwork has to been done in Zimbabwe, If you showed it to them they still wouldn't know anything about it. In my opinion that should be the PH or the operators job to make sure all of that is taken care of. We shouldn't have to check if THEIR paperwork is done correctly.

Jerry,

When in Zimbabwe you are required to obey Zimbabwe laws. Zimbabwe law requires you as the client to sign the TR2 form. Your signature afirms the amount of money that you have paid the Safari operator for the safari. It is the primary check the Zim government has to assure that the Safari Operator is reporting all of his income. In this case it is your responsibility. As we all know ignorance is no excuse of the law. Ganyana was just trying to let us knnow of this requirement.

465H&H

Jerry,
I think his point was the paperwork has to be in order if you ever want to see your trophies. Therefore, only a fool would leave camp before he made sure the paperwork was in order. If I'm not mistaken, the client's signature is required, so at the very least the paperwork should be done BEFORE you leave camp. I didn't take his post as saying the CLIENT needs to make sure there are no mistakes, just that the client should have a look at it and if there are irregularities in the paperwork the time to bring them up and make changes if BEFORE you leave camp.

Thanks for the feedback gents. I have been trading e-mails with my outfitter and they say things are "ok". However, this thread has introduced a new form...the TR2. I have my SAPS 520 ready, my "invitation letter", my 4457 (and several copies), my Amsterdamn permit, my Zim firearm permit application. But I have never heard of the TR2. What is the story? Thanks.

The TR2 form is a delightful piece of bureaucratic nightmare that I designed to replace the 7 old forms that safari operators/PH’s/Taxidermists had to fill out in quadruplicate before and after the hunt. Trying to combine all the economic data that the reserve bank wanted, along with the ecological data that parks needed and the scientific data that both parks and CITES wanted resulted in an A3 size form that is not particularly user friendly (to put it mildly).

When you - the client- arrive in camp, the PH should be in possession of the TR2 signed and stamped by Parks and Wildlife, to show that the hunt has been authorised and is legal as far as they are aware. The client shouldn’t need to worry about it at this stage, but it is always useful to peruse it- Before the hunt, your details and the areas you will be hunting have to be listed on the form - so you can check if you are hunting the concession you booked to hunt in! With most operators this isn’t an issue but if you are booked with fly-by-night Inc. who is offering a deal that is almost too good to be true...

At the end of the hunt, what animals you have shot, together with the trophy measurements, GPS logstats or 6 figure grid reference have to be listed, as well as the amounts you have been charged for the animals. You, the client are required to sign that this information is correct.

For your own protection, take down the number of the TR2 as well as the measured trophy sizes. If there are ever any problems it makes it easy for the association to follow up.

Yes, it is the PH’s job to ensure that the trophy information is correctly entered and either the company representative or the PH, to confirm the prices paid for the animals, but often the PH is “too busy†to attend to details and they get left for one of the girls at the company office to suck the figures out of thin air. Also, if they have “stretched the tape†to make you feel better whilst you are in their care, they may not be overly keen on you seeing the actual measurements prior to you passing over the tip .

NB- the PH will probably be un-aware of what daily rate you are paying, what agents commissions, extras etc you have been charged and that section of the form may well be blank.

If your trophies do not arrive and you have not signed the form or have signed it without checking that the trophy measurements and amounts paid are not at least approximately correct, follow up by the association on your behalf is very difficult. For the sake of five minutes at the end of the hunt...

OK, that's fair enough, I guess I misunderstood and thought he meant the hunter should fill out this papaerwork, my mistake.[QUOTE] GPS logstats or 6 figure grid referenceQUOTE] so as I see it, now it's our job to keep track of this during the hunt?

Jerry, I don't want to seem like the guy who is picking on you but your replies warrant another clarification it seems. NOBODY said it is the job of the client to record the GPS logstats or 6 figure grid stats. What was said is that along with lots of other information, the location of the kills is one of the pieces of information recorded on the document. It is up to the PH to record this information, not the client.

FDOM, OK I guess I'm a little dense today, I wasn't trying to jump on anyone I just wanted to clarify what was needed to be done, in camp by the hunter, so there won't be any hiccups down the road.

Gerry

Any PH worth the name can walk into the office and suck a dozen 6 fig grid references off the map. they don't have to be accurate- just in the right concession! And no- you just need to check that the form has been filled in as far as possible before you sign it- and make sure you sign it!

When the trials of the new fo

I've been to Zim 4 times in the last four years and have seen the difference in professionalism and genuine clusterf@#^&^"s. I'll not dwell on the latter, but Brent Hein (HHK) has always had a "settling up" evening before departure where I give out tips, check the documentation he wants me to sign, pay my remaining fees, etc. He goes over in detail every entry on all forms and has a calculator available if I want to check anything. Then we have a toddy and get a good night's sleep before the trip home. "Good fences made good neighbors."