I came across this post while doing an internet search on Zimbabwe's Matetsi Unit 4 (PH Mark DeWet had taken my wife and I there a few years back hunting cape buffalo).

I'm not sure what to make of this fellow Johnny Rodrigues's claims, but I thought the forum might find them interesting - if disturbing. What really caught my eye is his allegation that Cabela's – along with Out of Africa – is among the organizations involved in illegal hunts in Matetsi Units 1 and 4. It was apparently posted this past July; perhaps someone here knows Mr. Rodrigues or additional details that may shed light on his wild allegations?

Kim

ILLEGAL SOUTH AFRICAN HUNTERS

A couple of week ago, I sent out a report about South African hunters on a killing spree in the Matetsi area. I felt this information warranted an investigation so with the help of a few people who very kindly helped towards my travelling expenses, I took a trip up to Matetsi and Vic Falls.

I discovered that a Zimbabwean Non Governmental Organization which goes by the name of Africa Centre for Holistic Management (ACHM) is ultimately responsible for the carnage which has been taking place. The Directors of ACHM are Huggins Matanga and Alan Savory who now lives in America. His address is P O Box 7128, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On the face of it, the original objective of ACHM was to take occupation of Waterford, Sekebelo and Bosweden Farms, known collectively as Woodlands Estates in Matetsi, the place where the South Africans were recently slaughtering the wildlife, and turn it into a wildlife management college. They have allegedly received funds from America to start their "college" but it appears that some of those funds were used to pay war vets and locals from surrounding villages to invade the three farms and drive out the legal owners.

To add insult to injury, Alan Savory, from his safe haven in New Mexico sends hunters from all over the world to hunt on Woodlands Estates which was once considered to be the "jewel" of Zimbabwe because of the abundance of wildlife there. He is naturally paid handsomely for this service.

Other outfits connected with this illegal hunting are the same ones that have cropped up time and time again, Nyati Safaris, Out of Africa Safaris and the American agent, Cabelas. On the attachment are details of illegal hunts conducted on Woodland Estates between June and November 2003.

I visited Matetsi Unit 1 which previously had abundant game, only to find that there is practically nothing left thanks to Out of Africa and Nyati Safaris and hunter by the name of Tristan Peacocke who allegedly uses dogs to hunt leopard. Unit 1 is no longer bearing any fruit, but that's no problem for the hunters because they have now shifted their attention to Matetsi Unit 4 where they can buy hunts from Mike Chidziwa. Nobody abides by any quotas so it's open season on wildlife in Zimbabwe.

During my trip, I discovered that this illegal hunting operation is a well organized affair. It appears that the hunters base themselves at Halfway House which is a hotel on the main Victoria Falls road, roughly half way between Bulawayo and the falls. They camp in the bush opposite the hotel. I counted 9 South African vehicles parked there and 18 hunters. Each pair of hunters had about 4 war vets or settlers assisting them. It was dark so I was only able to get one registration number from a Toyota Raider: NCC 266 T. From there, they make their way through Sikumi, Kanondo and Katshana, (the home of the Presidential Elephants and owned by Governor Orbert Mpofu), Matetsi and Woodlands Estates, slaughtering whatever they can at each place. When they get back to Halfway House, they use the hotel workshops to weld their trophies into false long-range fuel tanks on their vehicles. They also stuff skins into the spare wheels and then smuggle their goods through either Beit Bridge or Pandamatenga border posts.

I also discovered that the headquarters of Out of Africa Safaris is at a place called All Days which is in the far north of South Africa, about 150km South-West of Beit Bridge. I was told that they have a big warehouse there where they treat the trophies and pack them for export.

Nyati Safaris, owned by Phil Palmer and Jacob Mudenda, apparently not satisfied with their lucrative hunting business have also managed to acquire a concession to chop down indigenous trees in the Vic Falls area which I am told they export to Pretoria North.

We have reported our findings to National Parks and will also be alerting the South African authorities.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELEPHANTS OF ZIMBABWE
'The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe' inhabit the Hwange Estate, bordering Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. Tourists came from around the world to experience this habituated elephant herd. The elephants were studied and monitored.

By the early 2000s things were turning bad. Between 2001 and 2003 over 30 elephants were encountered with snare wounds. But what was to happen in September 2003 was even more horrifying. A government official claimed the State Land area of Kanondo (home to 'The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe', and which - just as absurdly for one man to 'own' - also includes the Hwange National Park Airport). In addition, this government official also laid claim to the adjoining 'Touch the Wild's' Katshana lodge and the land surrounding it. These two properties he greedily added to another three that he had reputedly already 'acquired'. He also managed to acquire hunting quotas, and the gunfire started on land not hunted for more than 30 years. By 2004 much was in ruins. Safari operators were no longer allowed on the land. Zimbabwe's flagship herd was inaccessible, and under threat. The waterholes were left to dry up completely, and those few that did hold water were under-utilized by the wildlife. Gunfire had scared them off. Even the researchers and conservationists have now been banned from the land. Is the government of Zimbabwe content to sit back and watch one of their own destroy what The President pledged in 1990 to protect? "The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe." What did the 'Presidential decree' mean? Does no-one care that it is being blatantly abused by a greedy official?

Hand back the land Governor Obert Mpofu. Your time is up.

Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Phone 263 4 336710
Fax 263 4 336710
Mobile 263 11 603 213
http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw

Posted at: www.mombu.com/culture/zimbabwe...hunters-2772706.html on 1 July 2010(?)

Johnny Rodrigues is a self confessed wildlife warrior and a total anti hunter, on top of that, he is a real asshole!!

There may or may not have been an occurrence of what he mentions, but take it with a pinch of salt!

Mart

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
Johnny Rodrigues is a self confessed wildlife warrior and a total anti hunter, on top of that, he is a real asshole!!

There may or may not have been an occurrence of what he mentions, but take it with a pinch of salt!

Mart

I see his name croping up every now and then.
Always in a negative light as far as hunting and telling the truth is concerned.

Johnny finds it difficult to tell the truth even if it is to his benefit.

Alan Savory is a crook- He was one of the first to use the malitia to get of farmers who's property he wanted (like Tommy Orford on Waterford estate)and is a long time friend of Robert Mugabe.

As for the rest...there is a smattering of truth but not much!

Absolute bullcrap of the worst stinking species.

Smacks of old Pravda articles revised by eco-warriors.

Allan Savory has done more for the understanding of ecosystems' dynamics and conservation of land and wildlife than all the so-called Eco-NGOs put together.

The tone of this rubbish alone should ring bells for anyone reading it...

Do you want to know more about Savory?

Watch this... Beats Al Gore a looooooong way, I'd say. http://www.vimeo.com/8239427

Weird that the South Africans are driving in toyotas with number plates that was used in the 1980 (ncc266 T)now we have nw or mp or l weird.

I was last at the Woodlands and Matetsi in 2008. There was plenty of game. The waterholes held plenty of antelope throughout the day, buffalo and elephant moved through after dark. I only saw one other hunter the whole trip. Sounds like little Johnny's nose is growing.

As far as i am aware Matetsi Unit 4 is being hunted and managed by Ian Gloss, a Zim PH of high repute that lives in Vic Falls. After the lodge burnt down he rebuilt it and from pics i have seen it is looking great. Ian is not the kind of guy to deal with dodgy PH's no matter where they come from and my understanding is that Unit 4 is still a good block for certain species

Savory kept settlers off his property and helped them onto Woodlands. These settlers now occupy Woodlands and those that have hunted there or have even attended "holistic" farming seminars and the like are ASSHOLES! This is not a campfire or campfire type area. It was taken!

SADC tribunal ruled in favor of the former Woodlands owner and he can use this ruling here in the States to seek compensation from those who visited the property. Question remains before or after the ruling. Either way Cabelas should have stayed away from this area completely.

Savory might be doing some good work and Johnny blows smoke, but Savory and his followers are blowing smoke and shoveling crap.

Ian is a good guy!

I hunted with Ian Gloss in Matetsi 4 last year and the game was plentiful. Lots of buff, ele,lion and plains game.

I could be wrong but I thought Cabela's was booking hunts only in Matetsi Unit 2 these days.

Cabelas had sent hunters onto Woodlands and at least one spot on TV was filmed at Woodlands. I'm sure they did the right thing once they realized Woodlands was not a "campfire" area and was confiscated lands.

Is the story from 2006?

SORRY GUYS IAN GLOSS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH UNIT 4 HE LEFT LAST YEAR AND IS HUNTING CLOSE TO KARIBA . AS FOR JOHNNY RODRIGUES HE IS VERY ANTI HUNTING ....

Johnny is a sorry (lost) soul - with a serious bout of penis envy.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=413106431#413106431



This article was posted September 2004, here is the link.

quote:

Originally posted by Philip A.:
Absolute bullcrap of the worst stinking species.

Smacks of old Pravda articles revised by eco-warriors.

Allan Savory has done more for the understanding of ecosystems' dynamics and conservation of land and wildlife than all the so-called Eco-NGOs put together.

The tone of this rubbish alone should ring bells for anyone reading it...

Do you want to know more about Savory?

Watch this... Beats Al Gore a looooooong way, I'd say. http://www.vimeo.com/8239427

Allen Savory seems to be a classic example of the complexities and conflicts that arise in places like the post-Mugabe Zimbabwe.

Ganyana says he's a crook and I wouldn't question a single word that Ganyana says. But the world could learn a lot from Allen Savory's theories on land management. I watched the video and it's as good or better than any lecture on land management I've ever seen.

: : :

Alan is indeed an interesting man

His first partner, Robbie Robertson died in a nasty accident and Robbies Widdow and infant son ended up with nothing when Alan took over the buisness...Caused alot of comment to say the least.

Then he was one of the founder members of the Selous Scouts.

Then He became the head of the Rhodesia Party- A left wing grouping fronting for Robert Mugabe.

Then he came up with his Holistic programme and a few folks tried it...there is some real merrit in his ideas, but over the last 25 years some serious flaws have also been discovered.

He and Rautenbach were the only two white faces on the top table at Bobs wedding to (dis)Grace and he certainly used the malitia to get rid of Tommy Orford off waterford so he could use it as a 'holistic training centre for Black empowerment'. It has never been run as a training centre...just a buisnes

I suspect he'll run for Congress soon

I dont know anything about Alan Savory's activities in Africa. Here in the states I have had quite abit of his HRM training. As Ganyana says there is some merit to much of his program but he and the people he trains tend to be fanatical about things and many of them are card carring tree huggers. USFS has adopted much of his program in many areas and used them to the detriment of ranchers and hunters that live on the land.