http://allafrica.com/stories/201201130345.html


Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Tanzania: Natural Resources Ministry Slams Hunting Blocks Reports

13 January 2012



THE government will not review allocation of hunting blocks nor does it intend to do so since the exercise concluded in September 2011 was carried out in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Act Number 5 of 2009.




According to a statement issued on Thursday in Dar es Salaam by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, an official list of 60 successful tourist hunting companies was made public in September last year, out of the number, 51 firms are owned by the indigenous operators and the remaining nine firms under foreign companies.

"Nonetheless, there has been conflicting reports that the ministry had received instructions from the State House. Such reports intend to undermine the reliability of professional hunting sector. The process will not be reviewed and the amendments that came to effect in 2008 are binding and will benefit the nation," reads part of the statement, signed by the ministry's spokesperson, Mr George Matiko.




A serious review of the governing regulations within the Wildlife Conservation Act was carried out resulting in 21 changes that allowed serious control of the discretionary powers of decision makers. The statement strongly refuted allegations published in a Kiswahili daily early this week that anonymous business personalities based in Dallas, Texas in the United States of America under the support of the State House, were pressing for immediate return of hunting blocks to all foreign tourist hunting companies that missed the allocation.

"Such claims are unfounded and Ikulu has never issued instructions to the ministry with regard to allocation of hunting blocks. All approved applicants have been certified by the concerned minister and letters of endorsement received from the ministry are legal documents," says part of the statement.



For example, before review of the Wildlife Conservation Act, professional hunting was carried out with numerous loopholes. These include unspecified size of hunting blocks judging from the abundance of the resources, lack of grades of hunting blocks, the uniform value of all blocks irrespective of the available resources and the director of Wildlife had all the powers to decide who should get and who should not without being obliged to take advice from anyone.

Another ambiguity that surrounded the sector included isolation of the indigenous professional hunters, as foreign firms were not obliged to form alliance. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism will form blocks utilization monitoring committee whose members would undertake regular inspection of leased hunting blocks to assess the degree of adherence to the established laws and regulations for appropriate measures to be taken by the minister against any defaulters.

http://thecitizen.co.tz/compon...hunting-permits.html

No change of heart on hunting permits


Wednesday, 11 January 2012 22:14


By Lucas Liganga
The Citizen Chief Reporter
Dar es Salaam.

The government will not review the allocation of hunting permits for both local and foreign tourist companies despite pressure from firms that lost in the bidding done in September last year.

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige closed the door on that possibility in the wake of reports that foreign tourist hunting companies that received no allocations under the amended Wildlife Conservation Act 2009 had mounted a charm offensive, through politicians, to pressure the government to order fresh allocations.

In an interview yesterday, Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige did not mince his words: “Any foreign tourist hunting companies that are using politicians, including Members of Parliament, to pressurise the government to conduct fresh allocation of the hunting blocks are wasting their time.”

He was responding to queries from The Citizen following reports that some of the foreign firms had set up a campaign to overturn the legislation that seeks to ensure that indigenous Tanzanians get a chance to be major players in the hunting industry.

The law states that the percentage of foreign-owned companies allocated hunting blocks shall not exceed 15 per cent of the total of the existing hunting companies at any particular time.Applications for the hunting blocks were announced in the media in March 2011, with a June deadline, and the allocations were made public in September 2011.

The allocations were made by the Hunting Block Allocation Advisory Committee embracing wildlife experts from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Tanzania National Parks, a representative of the Attorney-General and the College of Wildlife Management in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, among others.

“The allocation of the hunting blocks has been done in accordance with the legislation,” Mr Maige said. “The foreign companies should have pressurised the MPs not to approve the legislation. But since the legislation is in force, it is too late.”

He denied reports that a report submitted to his office had reviewed the allocation of the hunting blocks. He said he had not seen such a report. Those who were aggrieved by the allocations, he said, should appeal to the High Court and not to politicians.In the new dispensation, the minister said, it was not possible for the government to satisfy all hunting companies that had applied for blocks.

The secretary-general of the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (Tahoa), Mr Abdukadir Luta Mohamed, said 33 local and foreign member companies applied for hunting blocks.

Two indigenous and four foreign-owned companies failed to make the cut. The local companies were Francolin Safaris Ltd and Intercon Adventure Safaris Ltd. The foreign companies included Tanzania Big Game Safari Ltd, Tanzania Safaris and Hunting (2003) Ltd, Foa Adventures Safaris Ltd and Bright Tours and Safaris Ltd.

The law limits the number of foreign companies owning the hunting blocks to less than 15 per cent.
All firms that were locked out and some that were not satisfied with their allocations have appealed to the minister as provided for in the law.

The final government list indicates that a total of 60 hunting companies have been allocated 146 hunting blocks throughout the country. Fifty one indigenous Tanzanian firms won the allocations, with only nine foreign-owned firms getting a share.

With the hunting blocks allocated, according to Mr Mohamed, the major challenge ahead is the marketing of the industry. That market is very competitive due to the international economic crisis and accompanying tourist hunting conventions, he said, and it would not be easy to attract clients. Tahoa will market its activities at the Safari Club International (SCI) 40th Annual Hunters’ Convention to be held between February 1 and 4 in Las Vegas in the United States.

quote:

Two indigenous and four foreign-owned companies failed to make the cut. The local companies were Francolin Safaris Ltd and Intercon Adventure Safaris Ltd. The foreign companies included Tanzania Big Game Safari Ltd, Tanzania Safaris and Hunting (2003) Ltd, Foa Adventures Safaris Ltd and Bright Tours and Safaris Ltd.

TBGA is the odd one out in the group - strange!

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TBGA is the odd one out in the group - strange!

Please explain !

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Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

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TBGA is the odd one out in the group - strange!

Please explain !

According to the article posted it was one among 4 foreign companies that didn't make the cut (in spite of being established since 2003)?

The article fails to indicate that the owner of TBGS also owns at least 2 other hunting companies that did qualify - just don't make sense or does it?

Are the indigenous companies actually competent to run safari camps and safaries? Will they have White operators fronting for them? Where will they get the capital needed?

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Originally posted by Brice:
Are the indigenous companies actually competent to run safari camps and safaries? Will they have White operators fronting for them? Where will they get the capital needed?

Seeing they have been granted the right to run hunting safari companies they must be in the category of those that "made the cut" - whether they will meet the standards remains to be seen.

It is also quite possible that they (indigenous outfitters) will more than likely 'sub-lease' or issue 'user rights' to foreign operators to run the show on their behalf as most are unknown entities, have no marketing knowledge and/or expertise in this particular industry - I guess they have to start somewhere.

I understand that Francoline Safaris is owned by the same people who own Osangu, so you might be aware of staying away from them.

And Bright Tours belongs to Adam Clements some prominent Names going empty handed.

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Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
And Bright Tours belongs to Adam Clements some prominent Names going empty handed.

Since when ?

These articles are simply a result of individuals defending their interests. The fat lady hasn't sung yet....

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These articles are simply a result of individuals defending their interests. The fat lady hasn't sung yet....

Time will tell. Some "New Connsession Owner" already promoting ans sell their hunts for July 2013 onwards.

Mwatisi safaris is owned by sherdell sherdell one of the partners in the old usangu. That's another company to stay away from.

Bwanamich is right , the fat lady hasn't sang yet. This exercise still isn't over yet.

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Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

These articles are simply a result of individuals defending their interests. The fat lady hasn't sung yet....

Time will tell. Some "New Connsession Owner" already promoting ans sell their hunts for July 2013 onwards.

As they should. If they have the letter of allocation, they are legally allowed to sell and market safaris. If something else happense between now and then, they need to make it right with the booked clients or take whatever course they think protects their rights and interests.

Bushmen Hunting also belongs to the same Mullas of Usangu...Its like giving a boat and a fishin net to a masai....tell him to go fishin....

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If something else happense between now and then, they need to make it right with the booked clients or take whatever course they think protects their rights and interests.

This will be very interesting

mbb, what blocks were you allocated?

I didnt ask for one

Mambatz, bushman hunting does NOT belong to mullas of usangu, it belongs to Talal Abood and an american partner Get your facts straight before trying to tarnish a guys image by associating him with the usangu clan.

Sorry Ndorobo, My mistake, its Out of Africa......

Mambatz, no problem at all. Didn't mean to jump at you like that. But you are right about out of Africa being from the same usangu clan. They got kilombero Malinyi or ulanga not really sure which one except it's the one that Ryan shallow had before.

Thanks Ndorobo, What kinds of impact will this bring to out Tanzanian Hunting industry, all these new companies does anyone even know the owners and how honest will they be in trophies shipping. hunting Industry is just not a walk in a park like handling a photographic company.
What do you guys think. What is the insuarance policy with clients trophies after the hunt...Ant suggestion Ph`s from Tz.How does a PH market for someone new and has never done trophy hunting but been doing lots of poaching for meat....

Hmmmmmm.........it would seem anyone contemplating a Tanzanian hunt better watch their butt and make sure they pick a reputable company with a concession that's a known entity. Taking a discount hunt with a new name will likely get your butt in a sling.......

Brett

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Mambatz, bushman hunting does NOT belong to mullas of usangu, it belongs to Talal Abood and an american partner Get your facts straight before trying to tarnish a guys image by associating him with the usangu clan.

With Bushman Hunting Safaris www.bushmanhunting.com a new Star in Tanzanias Hunting Industry showing up. He offers some of the finest Consessions for 2013 onwards in the Country for hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Mambatz, bushman hunting does NOT belong to mullas of usangu, it belongs to Talal Abood and an american partner Get your facts straight before trying to tarnish a guys image by associating him with the usangu clan.

With Bushman Hunting Safaris www.bushmanhunting.com a new Star in Tanzanias Hunting Industry showing up. He offers some of the finest Consessions for 2013 onwards in the Country for hunting.

It would appear you have found the "Holy Grail"

Judging by their website, you would think they have been hunting in these areas for years.

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Judging by their website, you would think they have been hunting in these areas for years.

Some people will belive...

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Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Judging by their website, you would think they have been hunting in these areas for years.

Some people will belive...

The proof of the pudding is the tasting

sounds like the bottom line is a Tz free-for -all. no thanks. even the TZ.posters aren't sure whats going on or what will happen.

we will know by months end...........
But then, deals, ventures, sales, partnerships will continue well into the season. At the end of the day, reputation is all that one will have to rely on..... whether buying or selling safaris.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
At the end of the day, reputation is all that one will have to rely on..... whether buying or selling safaris.

As a wise fellow told me once: "You can sell your name...but...you can't buy it back".

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
sounds like the bottom line is a Tz free-for -all. no thanks. even the TZ.posters aren't sure whats going on or what will happen.

The TZ posters sure as hell know whats going on and what the final outcome will be.

Even if some of the well established of the group may have been bitten in the 'derriere' they still have most of their concessions, their reputation remains unaffected and they do have an established client database which suggests business as usual - the others? ....
time will tell.