Only 17 benefit from safaris since 1980

By Reason Mpofu



THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism has been accused of failing to formulate a meaningful indigenisation plan for the safari industry, amid revelations that only 17 black Zimbabweans have directly benefited from the lucrative business since 1980.
Serious questions have been raised over the ministry’s interpretation of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:14, in relation to the number of years a safari operator can legally remain in business, it has emerged.
Investigations by the Sunday News have revealed that some operators in the safari business have been holding onto their concessions for more than 20 years — double the legally stipulated period.
Sources in the lucrative hunting industry said a storm was brewing over the delay in the auctioning of hunting concessions.
The matter came to light recently when new players who ventured into the safari business in the year 2000 on an experimental basis received letters notifying them that their leases were not going to be renewed and would, in fact, be put to auction.
Already, two other operators who reached their maximum 10 years of operation this year had their concessions auctioned, yet others who have been enjoying concessions from as far back as 1985 remain in business.
According to a document obtained by the Sunday News detailing the three phases of the safari indigenisation programme since Independence, only 17 individuals have benefited and two have operated for more than 21 years. These two are Mr Mike Chidziva of Unit 4 Matetsi Safari Area and Mr Enos Dube of Unit Matetsi Safari Area, both in Matabeleland North province, have been on the concessions since 1985.
The Minister of Policy Implementation, Cde Webster Shamu, has been on the Chirisa Safari Area concession in Mashonaland West for 13 years, while a Mr T Musariri of Deka Safaris in Matabeleland North has been on the property for 12 years.
A source close to the goings-on confirmed this new development and said the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has since initiated moves to have the Act interpreted correctly.
“I can confirm that the Act has been flouted. The Act is clear, but somehow some people decided to misinterpret it. It states that those on photographic sites can be granted 25-year leases, while those on hunting have a maximum of 10 years. But you have a situation where somebody has been on the concession for 22 years and has about six years still to go,†said the source.
According to the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:14, which was amended in 1996, a safari operator can enjoy a maximum of 10 years on a hunting grant and 25 years on a photographic safari.
The Act reads: “Lease of sites and grant of hunting rights in Safari areas. The Minister may — (a) lease sites in a safari area to such persons and for such purposes as he deems fit: (b) grant hunting or other rights over or in a safari area to such persons as he deems fit.
“Subject to such terms and conditions as he may impose: Provided that — (a) the period of lease in terms of paragraph (a) shall not exceed twenty five years: (b) the period of hunting or other rights in terms of paragraph (b) shall not exceed ten years: (b) a grant of hunting or other rights in terms of paragraph (b) shall not prohibit persons from entering into the Safari area concerned for purposes other than those for which the rights have been granted.â€
Contacted for comment on Friday, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, said the maximum number of years one can operate a hunting concession is 10.
Asked why other players have gone beyond the 10-year mark, Cde Nhema said: “The people you are talking about could have benefited that way because the policy came into effect in the year 2000 to 2001. You should also remember that there were low numbers among the indigenous people participating in this industry, so when it opened up for them to allow for more numbers the ones who were there before were allowed to remain. But what remains is that there is always a maximum of 10 years.â€
Explaining why Matetsi Unit 3 and Unit 4 were put to auction yet another concession, which also stretches back to the year 1997, was not put to auction, Cde Nhema said: “It has not been rolled over. I have not seen the documents. I do not even have the document you are talking about. There could be some individuals who have their own interest who could have come up with that document. I have not seen the documents you are referring to.
“The lease is open to renewal after five years. But this is not automatic as there are a number of considerations that are made. For instance, we could not renew Kadzombe’s lease as a result of conflict between him and his partner.â€
According to records, beneficiaries who have been in the hunting concession business for 10 years are Mr Eddie Kadzombe of Unit 1 Matetsi Safari Area, Mr Jacob Francis Mudenda of Unit Three Matetsi Safari Area, both Matabeleland North, and a Mr O Chidawu of Chewore North Safari Area in Mashonaland West.
General Constantine Chiwenga of Unit 6 Matesti Safari Area in Matabeleland North and a Mundangepfupfu and Nkiwane of Rifa Safari Area in Mashonaland West have eight years in the business. The other operators are one T Chingaze of Chewore South Safari Area, Mr Emmanuel Fundira of Makuti Safari Area, N Nyamupingidza of Doma Safaris all from Mashonaland West.
In the Midlands privince, there is General P Zimondi of Charara Safari Area and a Mr Matiwaza and Manungo of Sengwa Safari Area. Ms Thandiwe Nkomo is the beneficiary of Tuli Safari Area in Matabeleland South. In Matabeleland North province, there is Miss Marble Dete of Deka Safari Area and Mugundumu Safaris which is run by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

It looks like the snoobabs are quarrelling over the impala left overs .......


(Kathi, can you please put the origin of articles, as is proper when using someone else's work, ie which newspaper it is from? For example if this article was from the "Herald" it says a lot and whether it is just political BS or propaganda.)

Sunday News Bulawayo Oct 22 2006

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Sunday News Bulawayo Oct 22 2006

Yea, Kathi, you are offending the librarian sensitivities of some AR members.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Sunday News Bulawayo Oct 22 2006

Thanks Kathi.

***

Will,

as you are an author I would assume you would give credit and reference to the material you use as well. It also helps to know some of the biases of the author(s) being quoted.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Sunday News Bulawayo Oct 22 2006

Thanks Kathi.

***

Will,

as you are an author I would assume you would give credit and reference to the material you use as well. It also helps to know some of the biases of the author(s) being quoted.

Yes I know. I am just KIDDING!

I have no need to give any refrences as I do not use other's materials (usually!). I just make up all my hunting stories anyway.