First let me apologize for the typing . I am doing this from my I phone.

I am in OR Tambo. Flying home tonight after 12 days in the Save. I am leaving 3 days early .

The following is what I was told and/or observed:

1- Sango is not effected. Hunting as usual.

2-ARDA has not been issued permits. This makes no sense as this has been government owned for years .

3- Zambezi Hunters other areas, Mkwasine and Nyangombe, have had quota issued. These can be hunted.

4- Brooklands area (Masice spelling ?) has not been effected. Hunting is ongoing.

5- Save Safaris area has had the quota and permits issued.

6- Hunting is on going on Humani.

7- Savuli initially had problems . The area was hammered hard but has now been abandoned by Mr Drummond and his cohorts.

8- Sango has outstanding game populations.
Tons of Plains game. Perhaps too many. Lots of buff. Lots of leopard and elephant. Most elephants are females or young bulls. Lots of lions as well. We probably saw lions 8 times including some real serious mature males.

9- I believe they said Senuko was not being hunted.


I will file a hunt report upon my return.

That is very encouraging. Look forward to what you have learned about the Save being turned into a national park.

Thanks for the update Larry.

SBT:

I hearD nothing in that regard.

The Mugabe Government (if you can call it that) is wanting that for all of the conservancies.

Larry,

Much better news than anticipated.

Jeff

I spoke to Roger Whittall on the phone last week while he was here in the UK and he said that hunting on Humani is as normal.

Larry, thanks for the update.

I can expand on only a couple counts that I can verify.

Brooklands area was never effected since they implemented indiginization in 1984. They hunted right through this according to Graeme.

Glenn from Shangaan is back open for business for the rest of this year looking for some guys to come kill some of his Buffalo an Elephant and a Leopard for him. May be some deals there for anyone interested.

Glenn said they are getting their export permits and exports for earlier hunters are on their way through.

Good news for a few guys.

Sounds like a few bright spots after months of bad news. Any reports from Mokore?

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Larry, thanks for the update.

I can expand on only a couple counts that I can verify.

Brooklands area was never effected since they implemented indiginization in 1984. They hunted right through this according to Graeme.

Glenn from Shangaan is back open for business for the rest of this year looking for some guys to come kill some of his Buffalo an Elephant and a Leopard for him. May be some deals there for anyone interested.

Glenn said they are getting their export permits and exports for earlier hunters are on their way through.

Good news for a few guys.

Glad to hear that Shangaan is operating. I was worried about them that their status was not evident in Larry's post. Did they get their lodge rebuilt? I wish the best for them and all Zim's operators. I will hunt their again when able.

quote:

Originally posted by universalman:

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Larry, thanks for the update.

I can expand on only a couple counts that I can verify.

Brooklands area was never effected since they implemented indiginization in 1984. They hunted right through this according to Graeme.

Glenn from Shangaan is back open for business for the rest of this year looking for some guys to come kill some of his Buffalo an Elephant and a Leopard for him. May be some deals there for anyone interested.

Glenn said they are getting their export permits and exports for earlier hunters are on their way through.

Good news for a few guys.

Glad to hear that Shangaan is operating. I was worried about them that their status was not evident in Larry's post. Did they get their lodge rebuilt? I wish the best for them and all Zim's operators. I will hunt their again when able.

Yep, they got it rebuilt before the next season. You had perfect timing on your hunt.

what about chisakwe?

My last client in the Save, hunted with Glenn Stockil (SHANGAAN HUNTERS) on Senuko, in June 2012. He took Lion, buff, etc. Andy Hunter emailed me recently, said he had all export permits in hand, and was shipping the clients trophies asap - just FYI.

http://allafrica.com/stories/2...60026.html?viewall=1

Financial Gazette (Harare)



Zimbabwe: No Respite for Save Conservancy

By Tinashe Madava, 24 October 2012



THERE appears to be no respite for animals and villagers alike at the Save Valley Conservancy as no action has been taken by the ZANU-PF Politburo to restore order at the animal sanctuary following the partisan parceling out of hunting concessions to party bigwigs within Masvingo Province.

It emerged this week the four-member panel set up by the Politburo to look into the troubled hotspot threatening to create further divisions in the volatile Masvingo province has never met three months after it was established.

Conservationists, villagers and political foes had raised the red flag after ZANU-PF heavyweights from the politically restive province were awarded hunting licences and 25-year leases at the animal sanctuary, sidelining the local communities and raising the risk of poaching.

This also drew heavy criticism from world tourism players that the party was embarking on primitive accumulation of wealth ahead of watershed elections expected next year.

The hunting concession scandal at Save Conservancy also threatened Zimbabwe's joint hosting with Zambia of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation indaba in August next year.

ZANU-PF's Soviet-style politburo appointed Walter Mzembi, the Tourism and Hospitality Minister; Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management Francis Nhema; the party's secretary for lands, Ignatius Chombo as well as Land Reform and Resettlement Minister, Herbert Murerwa to look into the Save Valley Conservancy issue after party bigwigs had heightened poaching activities at the animal sanctuary in disregard of a directive from President Robert Mugabe to cease illegal activities there pending a decision by the party.

The four-member committee was tasked to look into the possibility of turning the conservancy into a national park, among other available options, effectively reversing the issuance of the leases.

But, since its appointment, the committee has failed to meet.

Mzembi told The Financial Gazette on Tuesday that he had not met his colleagues over the issue yet, citing a busy local and international schedule.

"No, we have not met as a committee yet unless the other three members have met in my absence. I travel a bit," said Mzembi in a telephone interview before adding that he was actually in Paris at the time.

Asked whether the party heavyweights had agreed to stop their rampant poaching in the conservancy, Mzembi said; "I do not know, if there is anything that is happening they would let me know".

Mzembi said he had opened dialogue with the Masvingo provincial leadership to chat a way forward.

He referred The Financial Gazette to the party's provincial chairperson, Lovemore Matuke who confirmed that he, indeed, was communicating with Mzembi but denied that there was progress yet.

"Progress, I don't know but it is the feeling of all concerned that we should do what is best for the development of Masvingo. We do not want to discuss our problems in the media," said Matuke.

Asked whether the ZANU-PF chefs had agreed to leave the conservancy, Matuke was evasive.

"Those who are holding papers will remain and those without papers will go. But we do not want to be divided by the media. We want a solution that will make our leaders happy while making us happy too," he said.

Those who were handed leases at Save Valley include war veterans leader, Joseph Chinotimba; Major General Gibson Mashingaidze; Major General Engelbert Rugeje; Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke; ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Lovemore Matuke; the late Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge; Health Deputy Minister Douglas Mombeshora; ZANU-PF central committee member Enock Porusingazi and Members of Parliament Alois Baloyi, Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri and Noel Mandebvu. Former lawmaker, Shuvai Mahofa was also handed a conservancy in the area.

Legislators had recommended that conservancies must not be parcelled out to individuals at the expense of whole communities that were earmarked to benefit in the spirit of indigenisation. They said the Natural Resources Ministry should award leases through share transfers, joint ventures and community trusts.

But Nhema ignored the recommendations and made a mockery of the Parliamentary Committee that sort to bring sanity to the chaotic land reform programme in the wildlife sector.

The committee had concluded that; "These beneficiaries were merely imposed to conservators despite assurances from the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Em-powerment that there was a transparent system in place to identify indigenous partners through the Zimbabwe Investors Autho-rity's independent board using the databases for both foreign and local investors."

Conservancy land ‘beneficiary’ in poaching claim
http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
26 October 2012

One of the ZANU PF ‘beneficiaries’ of conservancy land leases and hunting
licences is reportedly being investigated for poaching, as the future of the
Save Valley Conservancy remains unclear.

Former ZANU PF Minister and ‘war vet’ Shuvai Mahofa, referred to as the
Masvingo ‘Iron Lady’, is reportedly being investigated after a butchery she
allegedly runs in Gutu was raided by police. According to a NewsDay article,
three buffalo carcasses and other game meat was discovered.

Mahofa was one of a group of mainly ZANU PF linked individuals who were
granted a hunting licence by National Parks in August. She and the group of
so-called ‘indigenous farmers’ were given the licences and 25 year land
leases as part of the ZANU PF led indigenisation campaign.

Those who were handed leases at Save Valley include war vets leader Joseph
Chinotimba, Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, Major General Engelbert
Rugeje, Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke, ZANU PF
Masvingo provincial chairperson Lovemore Matuke, the late Higher Education
Minister Stan Mudenge, Health Deputy Minister Douglas Mombeshora; ZANU PF
central committee member Enock Porusingazi and ZANU PF MPs Alois Baloyi,
Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri and Noel Mandebvu.

The group last year formed the ‘Masvingo Initiative’ which led a campaign of
intimidation and harassment against various land owners in the province.
During this campaign Mahofa seized the Savuli Ranch and this year evicted
the owners and their employees.

Mahofa has since given permission to some safari operators to hunt on Savuli
Ranch, granting them hunting quotas according to her newly issued licence.
Mahofa’s brother is understood to be a known bush meat trader and sources
have told SW Radio Africa that their butchery business in Gutu has been
thriving ever since Mahofa was given her hunting licence.

Some observers have suggested that targeting Mahofa is a result of ZANU PF
infighting she has now become tangled in. The saga around the Save Valley
has already pitted some members of ZANU PF against each other, with the
Walter Mzembi led Tourism Ministry facing off against Environment Minister
Francis Nhema.

Mzembi has suggested that the licences should be withdrawn until a full
investigation is done. It’s understood his position is one of damage
limitation ahead of the scheduled UN World Tourism Organisation conference
set for Victoria Falls next year. The situation at Save Valley Conservancy
has added to widespread criticism of Zimbabwe acting as the host of the
international meeting.

Nhema meanwhile has previously backed the handing over of the licences as a
progressive move for indigenisation. He has slammed Mzembi in interviews for
trying to change the situation.

Both Ministers were meanwhile part of a committee set up by the ZANU PF
politburo to try and calm tensions around the situation at the conservancy.
The committee was asked to look into the possibility of turning the
conservancy into a national park, which would effectively see the leases
being withdrawn. But, since its appointment, the committee has failed to
meet.

Johnny Rodrigues, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, told
SW Radio Africa that withdrawal the leases and putting a moratorium on
hunting was the best way to tackle the ongoing problem of poaching and
illegal hunting. He said a proper audit needs to be completed to ensure
hunting is controlled.

He meanwhile said that plans to turn the Conservancy into a national park
are part of efforts by the authorities to “hoodwink” people, into believing
that the situation is under control.

“They are trying to show the world that they are in control, particularly
with the UN meeting happening next year. But the reality is if the situation
is not brought under control, then we won’t have any wildlife left,”
Rodrigues warned.

http://www.herald.co.zw/index....ocal-news&Itemid=131


Chiefs sign Save Valley partnership pact
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 00:00


George Maponga Herald Reporter

Seven chiefs in the Save Valley Conservancy yesterday signed a partnership agreement with operators for communities to jointly assume control of the wildlife-rich conservancy. Chief Nhema, Mr Ranganai Bwawanda of Zaka, Chief Tshovani (Mr Felix Mundau of Chiredzi), Chief Gudo (Mr Mavivi Karukai of Chiredzi) and Chief Msikavanhu (Mr Vusani Mutumebvi of Chipinge) signed the agreement on behalf of their communities at Chishakwe Ranch in the conservancy.
Mr Levison Budzi represented Chief Budzi of Bikita while Mr Norman Muchini signed the agreement on behalf of Chief Chamutsa of Buhera.
Mr Rodwell Mabuyaye signed on behalf of Chief Mutema of Chipinge.
Save Valley Conservancy chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza and Mr Clive Stockil signed the partnership agreement on behalf of the operators.
The chiefs, however, appealed to Government to make sure that conservancy was not over-run by a few individuals. They called for mechanisms that benefit communities around the conservancy.
“This is a historic day because to us it means our people will finally benefit by being directly involved in the running of this wildlife conservancy.
“We do not want a few individuals who come here and lay claim to wildlife in this area yet our people are not benefiting anything.
“This conservancy is a national treasure that should benefit all the people not just a few individuals,” Chief Nhema said.
Chief Tshovani said their people could not wait to benefit from the conservancy.
“This is a great day for us as the people of Chiredzi because we have been waiting for a long time for this day to come. We want Save Valley Conservancy and its diverse wildlife to be in the hands of communities who live around it.”
The conservancy, according to Chief Gudo, should not be allowed to fall into the hands of a few individuals.
He said joint community ownership would immensely benefit surrounding communities.
“We are happy with this new arrangement. We have a lot of infrastructural challenges in our areas which we hope will be addressed through this new arrangement where communities are joint owners.”
Chief Msikavanhu urged operators to start working closely with all stakeholders while ploughing back into the surrounding communities.
“We can end things like poaching if our people understand that they have a stake in this conservancy.
“Our people do not want to sit and watch from the periphery. They want to be partners and once they start accruing the fruits of being partners through developments in their communities even poaching will cease.”
The traditional leaders appealed to the new Save Valley Conservancy executive committee to repair the damaged electrical fence around the wildlife sanctuary.
“The hostility that exists from some communities towards the conservancy operators is also partly caused by the effect of these wild animals on surrounding communities,” Chief Gudo said.
Mr Nyabadza described the agreement as an epic moment dovetailing Government’s land reform programme and empowerment programmes.
He said the long term goal was to make Save Valley Conservancy a reputable wildlife sanctuary with worldwide acclaim in the same mould as the Victoria Falls.
The signing of the partnership agreement was witnessed by several conservancy operators and rural district council officials from Zaka, Bikita, Chipinge, Chiredzi and Buhera who will be the technical advisors to participating chiefs and their communities.

This could be seen as another goofy scheme to have the indigenous people carve up the SAVE. In reality it is a good thing. In Skyping with Terry Andes yesterday he feels this a very good move and a big step in the right direction. The chiefs want to work with the SAVE operators to the benefit of everyone. Operators like Terry already had agreement with the locals before the 25 "Farmers" got involved. Terry doesn't think this is the end of the problems but a very big step forward for the SAVE.

Mark

As long as there are no banned individuals on the list of participants. Making it like Victoria Falls? In what way? In the sense of it being a photographic destination?

UEG,

My understanding is that everyone going forward with this agreement wants hunting to continue. Terry feels the "Farmer" will be throw out as the government can't risk loosing that many votes in the upcoming election.

Mark

When is the "upcoming election"? Anymore word on the Save moving forward?

Jim,

Nothing is in stone yet but the SAVE operators seem to be very optimistic as they are taking bookings for '13.

My understanding is that with the upcoming elections the ZANU PF cannot afford to alienate the whole voting block in the tribal area around the SAVE by letting the 25 "Farmers" rape the SVC. The real locals are very much interested in the SAVE continuing hunting as normal so that they can reap some benfit from it.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

Nothing is in stone yet but the SAVE operators seem to be very optimistic as they are taking bookings for '13.

My understanding is that with the upcoming elections the ZANU PF cannot afford to alienate the whole voting block in the tribal area around the SAVE by letting the 25 "Farmers" rape the SVC. The real locals are very much interested in the SAVE continuing hunting as normal so that they can reap some benfit from it.

Mark

Thanks Mark,

Do you know when the elections are?

Jim

Germany minister concerned over Save Valley conservancy
http://www.herald.co.zw



Tuesday, 04 December 2012 00:00

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
VISITING Germany Economic and Co-operation Minister Mr Dirk Niebel yesterday
met Vice President Joice Mujuru where he raised concerns about the safety of
Berlin’s investments in Zimbabwe, principally the Save Valley Conservancy.

Mr Niebel also met Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Finance Minister
Tendai Biti and conveyed the same message on investment. Save Valley
Conservancy has come under the spotlight in view of the country’s
indigenisation policies with villagers living around the area pushing for
enforcement of the law to the conservancies.

However, the Zanu-PF Politburo had taken a position that it should be
converted to a national park. Sources close to the VP’s meeting with the
German Minister told The Herald that Mr Niebel said his government wanted to
fund relocation of animals from the Save Valley Conservancy to the
Gonarezhou Trans Frontier Park. By doing so, the Germans wanted to be part
of the frontier park. It is understood that VP Mujuru emphasised to Mr
Niebel that Germany must not be worried about the animals but instead
improve the livelihoods of black Zimbabweans living around the conservancy
who do not seem to matter in the German scheme of things.

She said these people have been under sanctions since 2000 and struggling to
put irrigation schemes in a delicate ecological region such as Masvingo.

“VP Mujuru emphasised the need to fund the development of landless
communities adjacent to Save Valley so that they have a viable livelihood
thereby bringing a balance to the pursuits of the conservancy and the
villagers.

“He (Mr Niebel) was told that until the livelihoods of landless communities
are stabilised the prospects of the conservancy remain dim,” said the
source.

Prior to his visit Mr Niebel told the Germany press that he did not wish to
meet President Mugabe.
Reacting to his comments, Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba said
Mr Niebel was a mere minister who is not the Head of State’s equivalent.

“He is not the equivalent of the President but he is also a guest in the
country. It is not quite mannerly to make those statements about the Head of
State of Zimbabwe.

“Anyway he has met the President’s deputy which does not quite uphold his
boycott position, does it?
“Maybe the real significance of the minister’s visit does not lie in who he
has met or in who he does not want to meet. It lies in that he has visited
the country after such a long self-imposed ban,” he said.

Mr Charamba said the Germans were not doing Zimbabwe a favour by visiting
the country after such a long time.

It is understood that Germany had mining interests in Zimbabwe and it was
not happy to be a mere bystander in the lucrative diamond business booming
in Zimbabwe.

After meeting VP Mujuru, Mr Niebel said he told journalists that he
requested for Government approval to allow observers outside Sadc and the
African Union to be part of next year’s election observers. This is despite
that Zimbabwe is not being invited to observe elections in European
countries.

“We asked Government to allow international observers not only those from
Sadc and the African Union for next year’s elections,” he said.

“The Vice President told us that Government was still discussing that
issue.”
However, Mr Charamba said: “Parties to the political dispute in Zimbabwe can
not observe elections. They have taken a partisan position.”

Any word on how the Duckworths have faired?

Dean

http://allafrica.com/stories/201212130365.html


Zimbabwe: Save Conservancy - Traditional Leaders Speak Out
By Lloyd Gumbo, 13 December 2012



Traditional leaders in and around the Save Valley Conservancy have vowed to scuttle the Germans' plan to translocate animals from the conservancy to Gonarezhou Trans-Frontier Park. This followed reports that the German government was planning to fund the translocation of animals from conservancies owned by Germans in the Save Valley Conservancy to the giant frontier park.

However, there are indications that the Germans want to translocate the animals to Mozambique as a way of skirting the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive that Government has embarked on.

"There is no way I am going to allow the translocation of animals from the conservancy in my area to any other place," said Chief Mabika whose area of jurisdiction stretches from Bikita into the Save Valley Conservancy.

Chief Mabika is also Senator for Masvingo.

The Governments of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe last year officially launched the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Trans-Frontier Park.

Said Chief Mabika; "We want our subjects to benefit from the conservancy through the indigenisation programme (share ownership schemes) that has been implemented in other areas. We want the exercise to be done in the area as a matter of urgency. My subjects are wallowing in poverty yet they can eke a living out of these animals."

Chairman for Village 9 in ward 24 of Chiredzi, Mr Dzingirai Hama said they heard reports that the Germans wanted to move animals from the conservancy.

"We heard about the reports that they wanted to remove animals from here," said Mr Hama whose village is in the conservancy.

"But we are saying that is not going to happen because these are our animals, our heritage. These white people found the animals here so if they don't want Government policies being implemented, then they should just leave us with our animals.

"We are not benefiting anything at the moment so we would want indigenisation to be implemented here as well."

Mr Hama said proceeds from the conservancy were supposed to benefit villagers in and around the conservancy through developmental projects such as schools, clinics, roads and irrigation schemes.

According to sources, Germany's Economic and Co-operation Minister Dirk Niebel told Vice President Joice Mujuru last week when he paid a courtesy call on her that his Government wanted to fund the translocation of the animals.

However, sources who attended the meeting said VP Mujuru told the Germany Minister that they were supposed to be concerned with uplifting the lives of people around the Save Valley Conservancy than to be worried about animals.

Headman for Matsai in Chiremwaremwa area in Bikita, Mr Rodgers Nerwande whose village borders the Save Valley Conservancy, said they wanted Government to intervene to make sure villagers around the conservancy benefited.

His "subjects"?! Really?!

and so it goes.... this whole thing would be a soap opera if the implications weren't so serious.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201301101036.html


Zimbabwe: Germany Wades Into Save Conservancy Saga
9 January 2013



He told reporters in Harare yesterday that Zimbabwe government had used its so-called "wildlife-based land reform" to violate a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) it has with Germany.

Gnodtke warned that failure to abide by international agreements could seriously undermine foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country.

"FDI inflows depend on 'how serious a government is willing to respect international agreements'. If a country is not serious about respecting international agreements, it will not attract investments," he said.

Last year, the Save Valley Conservancy turned into a hotly contested spot that spawned a public spat between Enviro-nment and Wildlife Management Minister Francis Nhema and Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi. This was after ZANU-PF bigwigs had moved into the park, destabilising existing investors and triggering rampant poaching.

Reports of the planned translocation of the animals to Mozambique had also courted the ire of communities in Masvingo.

"This is utter nonsense," Gnodtke told reporters in reference to the reports.

"This is polemic; I don't want to get to that level of polemic. German has been approached by an organisation called Peace Parks Foundation in South Africa, which has suggested that we have an over population in certain species there and there is under population of the same species in Gonarezhou hence it will be better to translocate some species to Gonarezhou; we are considering to do something about it. German investors were invited by ZANU-PF. The President (Robert Mugabe) was in Germany asking investors to invest in Zimbabwe. We have a BIPPA is that in place," he said, adding that the government had agreed to the relocation of animals

Since the shows are over does anyone have updated information on the status of hunting in the Save for 2013 and specifically are there still any red flags for USA hunters related to Lacey Act violations with "bad guys" being partners?

Wyatt,
Excellent question! Lets hear the latest on the Save...

From what I am told by people involved at a high level, certain properties are virtually certain to be OK. Sango for example. There are one or two other in this category. I would hate to quote the names. Others are not going to be OK. I hear Hammond is in this category. For the most part, they expect quotas to be issued.

None of this is official.

Save Valley hunters charged US$70k

http://www.newzimbabwe.com

26/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

AN “upper-end” hunting expedition on the Save Valley Conservancy, the
subject of bitter divisions in the coalition Cabinet and threats of aid cut
by the European Union can cost up to US$70,000 a pop, a safari operator has
revealed.

Chunks of the 3,400 square-kilometre wildlife reserve in the south-east
Lowveld were last year parcelled out to top Zanu PF officials in a decision
that sparked a public row between Environment Minister Francis Nhema and his
Tourism counterpart, Walter Mzembi.

Nhema backed the “indigenisation” of the lucrative but largely
white-controlled wildlife sanctuary. Mzembi warned that the move would hurt
the country’s tourism sector adding the 25 individuals handed concessions in
the area had also secured farms under the country’s land reforms.

But in what might help explain the fight for control of the conservancy,
safari operator, Alistair Pole, said hunters can pay up to US$70,000 on a
single expedition in the conservancy, according to USAToday.com.

Speaking at the annual convention of Safari Club International in Nevada,
US, Pole, owner of Zambezi Hunters, said “an upper-end hunting expedition
can cost up to $70,000 before all is said and done”. “To these folks, it's
worth it,” he added.

Most of the hunters were spending a fortune for the “thrill of game hunting”.
“ This stuff can fight back," he said, adding two professional hunters were
recently killed by Cape Buffalo.

Pole’s firm charges US$53,000 for a 21-day lion safari with other species
such as buffalo, leopard and plains game also available for hunting.

The late Higher Education Minister, Stan Mudenge was among 25 individuals,
most of the top Zanu PF officials, accused of trying to muscle their way
onto the conservancy.

Mzembi said at the time: "It is wrong to have minority ownership of
conservancies, but it is even more unpardonable to replace that minority
white with a minority black, in the face of a crisis of expectations and
thirst for empowerment from our black majority.

“This business of empowering people who are already empowered severally in
other sectors, such as farming, ranching, sugar cane farming, mining, etc,
will not pass the moral test nor will it endear us to the people except to
ourselves."

The development also drew threats of aid cut by the European Union with
Germany warning it could boycott the United Nations world tourism congress
set to be jointly hosted with Zambia at the Victoria Falls resort in August.

Running along the banks of the Save River, the conservancy – respected as a
leader in wildlife management and research – is collectively controlled by
international investors, white ranchers who formerly ran cattle on the land.

Conservancy officials deny allegations the sanctuary is white controlled,
insisting indigenous businessmen and hundreds of rural farmers are also
involved.

"It is a working example of how something really special can be a success,
by including all sectors of the community, especially the rural poor who
have previously got nothing out of wildlife," said Wilfried Pabst, a German
businessman who is vice-chair of the conservancy.

"Two-thirds of stakeholders of the conservancy are black. It is now being
threatened by a collection of greedy individuals who are bringing nothing
into the conservancy and will destroy it.”

What is happening on Chisakwe,in the Save. Some dear friends of mine have it, and I wonder if they can hunt clients there.
Jack

Maki,

The Duckworths seem to be doing well in their area of the Save. It was a pleasure to meet Neal & Gary recently @ SCI. I booked a hunt for a matriarch buff, a real "duggagirl" with them for the Save this July. We will also hunt their Moz. coutada and, if the ban is lifted, my wife will try for a hippo.

DJ:

I was in Sango in October. Chisakwe borders Sango. My recollection (which may not be correct) is that it was not being hunted at that time. I do not recall the details.

I do recall that they were large herds of buff that crossed back and forth between the 2 properties. In fact, I shot 4 in less than 10 days in that part of Sango.

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
Maki,

The Duckworths seem to be doing well in their area of the Save. It was a pleasure to meet Neal & Gary recently @ SCI. I booked a hunt for a matriarch buff, a real "duggagirl" with them for the Save this July. We will also hunt their Moz. coutada and, if the ban is lifted, my wife will try for a hippo.

Thanks for the update.

Dean

I think Humani (Whittalls) are a go.

SOS from the wilderness: Save our Save

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Thursday, 28 February 2013 12:20

AS the ownership wrangle engulfing the Save Valley Conservancy continues
with no clear solution in sight, the wildlife paradise is being ravaged by
poachers and unplanned development. The privately-owned wilderness now risks
being completely rundown, reports Nelson Chenga.

ALONG Zimbabwe’s Masvingo-Birchenough Bridge highway in the south eastern
Lowveld is a little known place called paGedhe. Literally, it means “at the
gate,” although there is no gate in sight.
The place, which has about a dozen or so tiny shops, was named after the
main gate leading into what was once arguably the country’s largest cattle
ranch of Devuli that covered 7 500 square kilometres when it was created in
1919.
The ranch has, however, shrunk in size. What used to be the main gate is now
located some 40km away from its original site after President Robert Mugabe’s
controversial land reforms sliced by half the ranch’s former size to the
current 3 400 square kilometres.
Despite having already lost half of its land, the fate of Devuli appears yet
to be sealed, as further land reforms eat into the remaining property by
releasing thousands of villagers into the ranch.
Devuli was transformed into the country’s biggest privately-owned game park,
now called Save Valley Conservancy, in mid 1990s.
The conservancy is in the country’s predominantly Natural Region 5, an area
with a highly erratic annual rainfall of less 650 millimeters, making cattle
and crop production or any other form of agricultural activity an extremely
dicey pre-occupation.
The creation of the Save Valley Conservancy was so well supported that the
government signed international Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) with more than half a dozen governments that
then invested heavily into the park by helping erect a 350km perimeter game
fence, purchasing animals and sinking boreholes, among other things.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the conservancy, which has about
25 former white commercial cattle ranchers, and the five rural districts of
Bikita, Chiredzi, Zaka, Buhera and Chipinge was also signed in 2000 to
soften the hard edge created by the physical fence barrier.
The MOU gave birth to social and economic partnerships that benefitted the
conservancy and its neighbours.
However, more than two decades down the line the dream of creating an animal
paradise that would be part of one of the world’s biggest game reserves, the
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, is turning into a nightmare as the project
fast falls apart.
Half of the 350km game fence has been ripped off and used to snare the park’s
wild animals that include more than half of some of Zimbabwe’s greatest
treasures, the rhino, the lion, the leopard, the buffalo and the elephant,
commonly referred to as the Big Five.
Four of Africa’s celebrated Big Five are all on the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature’s Redlist of Threatened
Species, a list of flora and fauna in danger of extinction.
Organised criminals using high-powered guns have also come to the party
specifically to target the Big Five.
Considering that a licenced hunter is willing to pay US$20 000 to shoot a
lion and US$12 000 for a bull elephant over and above the US$2 500 they pay
per day to secure a hunting permit, one can easily figure out that the
country is being prejudiced of millions of dollars by poachers ravaging Save
Valley Conservancy.
Venison and fresh game meat is now a common daily diet for communities
around the park because of rampant poaching activities .
With the fence damaged, the wild animals, especially lions, now also roam
freely into the communal areas attacking livestock, creating an ugly state
of chaos.
The situation looks even more untidy as about 2 000 people, with more still
coming in, are busy clearing huge tracts of the conservancy, including areas
covered under BIPPAs, to plant crops such as sorghum and millet.
Juxtapose this perplexing scenario with a spirited campaign by a horde of
influential politicians and businesspeople seeking a stake in the
conservancy without them contributing a single cent, the future for Save
Valley becomes too ghastly to contemplate.
The situation on the ground is moving from bad to worse as the conservancy
members refuse to pay unit taxes, maintain the conservancy, chiefly the
boundary fence, or take responsibility for whatever happens in the game park
arguing that it is no longer clear who owns the property, a state of affairs
that is promoting a free for all situation.
Save Valley Conservancy Trust chairperson, Basil Nyabadza, in an interview
with The Financial Gazette In-Depth, said a conservancy was not very
different from a nursery; a special designated asset that must be jealously
guarded.
“However, in the past five years we have seen unprecedented levels of
poaching taking place . . . It’s organised poaching. It’s not being done by
amateurs. It’s well-organised and sadly possibly aided by local people out
of greed. Poaching is now getting out of control in the conservancy,” said
Nyabadza.
Nyabadza, who has courted the ire of some of the politicians and
businesspeople seeking a stake in Save because of his strong views against
unplanned resettlements and poorly structured empowerment programmes,
highlighted that some of the poachers now have the temerity of using
automatic weapons, a situation which he described as worrying.
Nyabadza, whose Agricultural and Rural Development Authority has a stake in
Save, said very little safari hunting could take place in the conservancy
this year since the game park’s future continues to hang in the balance due
to the ownership wrangle.
“Sadly there have been cancellations of hunting from foreign clients because
they are aware there is a dispute in progress and last year’s trophies have
not been exported because the ministry has withheld some of the permits. So
these are some of the immediate problems that have taken root. Someone comes
here, pays full fees, hunts and we then deny them the permit to
export. Immediately they ask: ‘What’s happening?’ We have lost badly this
season as a nation. We have lost badly because the trust and expectations of
the hunting community (have not been met). It doesn’t look good and it means
serious cash flow constraints,” said Nyabadza, adding that the scenario may
affect the successful hosting of the United Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly to be held in August this year.
“There is a programme coming up this August, the UNWTO, so we must be at our
best behaviour. We don’t need to be in conflict, shouting at each other and
undermining the very constituency who are going to be hosted by us. Now we
have some of those with whom we have signed bilateral agreements agitated
that their assets are under siege. This is causing problems in our
international relations.”
The Lowveld Rhino Trust director, Raoul du Toit, who was part of the
conservancy since inception, said the major donors behind rhino conservation
were concerned that the economic viability of Save Valley was being
undermined by political disputes that have disrupted safari hunting
operations.
Said du Toit: “Because ecotourism is presently limited in Zimbabwe owing to
negative international perceptions, the conservancy relies heavily upon
safari hunting . . . Major recurrent costs arise in anti-poaching, water
pumping, fence maintenance, restocking, maintenance of infrastructure,
skilled staff, marketing and other aspects of the wildlife business.
“Once safari hunting is disrupted, the conservancy members have no income to
maintain their ranch operations, which include anti-poaching activities. In
the past, the members were able to look after rhinos very effectively on
behalf of the nation…”
Du Toit suggested that for Zimbabwe to wean itself from donor assistance
such as that currently being given by the International Rhino Foundation and
SAVE Foundation, there was need for community partnerships to help reduce
the costs involved in protecting wildlife resources. Incentives for local
communities to sustain wildlife resources can also help reduce local
poaching, fence destruction and other problems, he said.
The five rural district councils that signed the MOU with the Save Valley
Conservancy Trust in 2000 are also losing thousands of dollars in unpaid
unit tax because of the dispute.
“You cannot approach any of the farmers because they are saying they are not
the owners,” said Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) chief executive
officer, Johnson Mpamhadzi.
Bikita RDC failed to collect US$152 747 in unit taxes last year, an amount
which represents 7,6 percent of the council’s budget.
Nonetheless, with the Save Valley Conservancy dispute having been referred
to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, one just hopes that a solution
would be found soon before it is too late.

Chipinge villagers at the mercy of wildlife

http://www.thestandard.co.zw

March 3, 2013 in Community News

CHIPINGE — The invasion of the Save Valley Conservancy by some war veterans
and Zanu PF officials has led to the scaling down of the electrical fence
bordering the conservancy, forcing wild animals to escape.

BY CLAYTON MASEKESA

The stray animals are destroying crops and livestock belonging to villagers
in the area.

According to the local MPs representing the affected areas, villagers are
losing their livestock and crops.

Chipinge West MP Sibonile Nyamudeza and Musikavanhu MP Prosper Mutseyami,
both from the MDC-T, said stray lions, elephants and buffaloes were wreaking
havoc in Masimbe, Musikavanhu, Gumira, Mutema, Devure and Nyonga areas.

Mutseyami said the animals were coming from as far as Chiredzi around the
Save Valley Conservancy to hunt for food.

He urged the authorities to act immediately to avert disaster.

“The madness started when some overzealous Zanu PF members invaded the game
park. They scaled down the fence and now there is no barrier to stop lions,
elephants and buffaloes from destroying people’s property,” said Mutseyami.

“The situation is so bad that people are losing their livelihoods. Those who
invaded the enormous park have no knowledge of its maintenance, let alone
the upkeep of the animals,” he said.

“At the moment, there is fear in Chipinge and villagers are not moving
around freely, as they fear attacks. The responsible authorities should act
now,” said Mutseyami.

Arda board chairman Basil Nyabadza, whose organisation is responsible for
the conservancy, admitted that the stray animals had become a menace.

“We are aware of the situation. Those crops which were destroyed last year
would be compensated,” he said.

He added that the fence was not scaled down by the Zanu PF members, but by
some other people. “I would like therefore to appeal to the public to be
responsible and stop vandalising the fence. Those who are found on the wrong
side of the law will be prosecuted,” warned Nyabadza.

But Nyamudeza said the authorities were not doing enough to correct the
situation.

“We have received promises about the so-called compensation but up to now,
villagers continue to lose their livestock and crops. It will be difficult
to recover lost property. It’s high time the cabinet intervenes,” said
Nyamudeza.

http://www.zimbabwesituation.c...asion-saga-drags-on/


Save Conservancy invasion saga drags on

Posted on November 1, 2013 by ZimSitRep_J — 1 Comment ↓


via Save Conservancy invasion saga drags on – The Zimbabwe Independent November 1, 2013 by Herbert Moyo

STAKEHOLDERS including foreign investors and the local community are still waiting for the new government to come up with a resolution to the long-running Save Conservancy saga, a year after the wild-life-rich conservancy was invaded by Zanu PF bigwigs.

Various stakeholders who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent this week said the dispute between invaders and conservancy owners was still to be resolved.

Save Conservancy is the richest and largest private wildlife sanctuary in the world. It hit the headlines last year after on invasion by Zanu PF heavyweights, particularly from Masvingo province.

They parcelled out the conservancy among themselves before embarking on an orgy of wildlife hunting, sparking local and international outrage.

An inter-ministerial team led by then deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara was established last year during the tenure of the inclusive government to investigate the matter and present recommendations to cabinet, but failed to deliver.

Save Conservancy general manager David Goosen, who met the Mutambara team twice in November, said a speedy resolution to the dispute was dashed by the election campaigns ahead of the July 31 polls and the subsequent change of ministers after the polls.

“As you know there were elections and now there’s a new minister,” Goosen said. “We are setting up meetings with the new minister (Saviour Kasukuwere) and we are still positive that a workable win-win situation for everybody will be realised.”

Goosen spoke of a business model in which the conservancy owners could get into partnership with the local community, adding that there is need to balance “government’s desire for indigenisation against the need to attract and retain foreign investors, as well as ensuring local communities benefit from the proceeds of conservancies in their areas, in addition to ensuring sustainable conservation of wildlife resources”.

“We want the conservancy to be run as a company and the local community will have shares in a trust represented by their chiefs,” said Goosen.

Kasukuwere’s phone went unanswered on Wednesday, while Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi did not return the Zimbabwe Independent’s call as promised.

However, Mzembi has in the past spoken strongly against the invasion of Save Conservancy.

Last month, he alluded to government’s failure to resolve the Save issue, describing wildlife and conservancy issues as a “supercritical governance problem where the government still has to provide its people with solutions and answers.”

“The governance issue is part of our outstanding business from the previous government that we are rolling over and unless we address that we will continue having problems,” Mzembi said.

He concurred with Goosen, saying the country should be looking at crafting policies to turn more of Zimbabwe’s arid areas in natural farming regions four and five into conservancies.