Farmers meet poachers

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


An angry meeting looms here tomorrow when embattled conservancy owners come face-to-face with marauding self-styled war veterans accused of widespread rhino and elephant poaching in the area.

13.08.1101:19pm
by John Chimunhu



According to notices for the meeting seen by The Zimbabwean, the National Parks and Wildlife Authority has invited 'indigenous wildlife operators', as the invaders are called, and the rightful conservancy owners.

The notice said the meeting was being convened to educate game farmers about new hunting quotas to be issued by the Authority this season. The meeting will take place at Hippo Valley country club.

The stage is set for confrontation as the wannabe wildlife farmers have failed to raise money to buy equity on existing properties. The director-general of the Parks Authority, Vitalis Chadenga, said earlier this year that a formula was being worked out for the new entrants to buy equity on conservancies but they all failed to borrow from the banks.

The dispute has spawned vicious poaching in the region, where units of the army have been deployed to bolster the out-gunned and outsmarted parks scouts. Investigations show that, contrary to government claims that the poachers are all from South Africa, local gangs of war veterans are behind an upsurge in rhino and elephant poaching. Some of the gangsters, including ex-soldiers, were arrested recently and army weapons found at the scene.

“The issue of poaching is related to the ownership disputes which the government created by proposing that we co-exist with people who have no capital, no expertise and basically nothing to offer besides being a nuisance,” said Clem du Toit, a conservancy manager.

“Now we have all sorts of people engaged in poaching, but claiming to have been directed to be on our farms by the state.”

Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke intervened at the height of confrontation between militant Zanu (PF) members and farmers last year over the lucrative hunting areas, which the Mugabe government had previously protected when other farms were taken.

The conservancies attract cash-rich hunters from all over the world and bring in millions annually. However, they have become the target of senior party hawks who now want them for themselves - as it becomes apparent that there will be no more land to grab after the next election.

Unlike the other farms which the government broke up willy-nilly, conservancies have proved difficult to tear apart because of the dangerous nature of some of the wild animals and the sensitivity of the ecology.

At the alleged instigation of Zanu (PF), high-profile individuals have taken over vast tracts, resulting in one case in the death of hundreds of crocodiles.

Two black rhinos were killed at Ruware ranch and another two at another two at Devure conservancy recently.

Zimbabwe is desperately trying to protect its remaining population of rhinos in the face of massive attacks by regional poachers sponsored by Chinese syndicates. Police have confirmed that the Chinese are the main buyers of tusks hunted illegally in Masvingo.

What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

They will call a meeting, blame the west for their woes and the west will bail them out again. And again...

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

They will call a meeting, blame the west for their woes and the west will bail them out again. And again...

AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN...........
BTW, they will not blame the West but the filthy colonialists, who incidently introduced a whole lot of stupid Western ideas. Schools, hospitals, German luxury motor vehicles, suits and so on. Their decendants must return to where-ever and take all their crap with them.

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

They will bring thier cheme of siezing farms to South Africa when queen winnie mandela puts her boy Julius Sello Malema in office.

SA it is coming for you next.

quote:

Originally posted by Hasher:

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

They will bring thier cheme of siezing farms to South Africa when queen winnie mandela puts her boy Julius Sello Malema in office.

SA it is coming for you next.

We unfortunately know that. In fact suspected that way back in 1966. Recent events have only served to confirm that our suspicions was indeed based on, well, accurate gut-feel and an understanding of the indegenous Anfican's thought processes, or lack thereof.

Thanks to Hendry Kissinger.
Thanks to Andrew Young.
Thanks to so many "Anti UDI & Ian Smith" and "Anti Apartheid" activists and politicians.
Thanks to all who supported those ill-informed politicians who destroyed southern Africa!

On a personal note: No hard feelings towards any living individual. I blame Jan van Riebeek and others of long LONG ago for settling here!

In good hunting while it is possible.

Andrew McLaren

My prayers for the families and legitimate business/landowners, you have fought the good fight, I have no doubt you will finish the race.

It is illegal for US citizens to hunt on land taken over by illegal or forceful means. Such hunting may not land you in jail here at home, but get caught trying to import illegal trophies from Zim. Many of the Zim hunts offered under the table or by new outfits are leading hunters into dangerous waters. LDK

Is the Save conservancy included in this "dispute"?

quote:

Originally posted by Hasher:

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
What will they do when the whole country is a wasteland and there is nothing left to steal?

They will bring thier cheme of siezing farms to South Africa when queen winnie mandela puts her boy Julius Sello Malema in office.

SA it is coming for you next.

Mate it is long here already, in several guises. At this stage the Nordic boys and girls are paying for it! And the farms are not going to those who might benifit, but to Ruling Party chums.

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:
Mate it is long here already, in several guises. At this stage the Nordic boys and girls are paying for it! And the farms are not going to those who might benifit, but to Ruling Party former terrorist and aimed at innocent civilians bomb-planting chums.

Scriptus, I trust that you will approve of my editing of your post?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

It is illegal for US citizens to hunt on land taken over by illegal or forceful means. Such hunting may not land you in jail here at home, but get caught trying to import illegal trophies from Zim. Many of the Zim hunts offered under the table or by new outfits are leading hunters into dangerous waters. LDK

Very true, and should serve as an open word of caution to people booking hunts with companies that are not clearly established and documented.

quote:

Is the Save conservancy included in this "dispute"?

I do not know about the specific meeting cited in this article, but the Save Conservancy has been affected heavily by this issue as any white owned business in the country has.

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

quote:

Is the Save conservancy included in this "dispute"?

I do not know about the specific meeting cited in this article, but the Save Conservancy has been affected heavily by this issue as any white owned business in the country has.

Yeah, and Julius Malema on a public platform [ not a .375 H&H] has stated that all whites are criminals and must be treated as such.

I have been reading Ian Smith's memoirs, "Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal". I would recommend it to anyone who studies the history of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. Ian Smith is a true Zimbabwean (Rhodesian) hero, in my estimation. By the way, the original colonialists of Zimbabwe were NOT white, but were the Matabele and Shona, who drove out the original indigenous occupants of the country-the Bushmen. And, the Matabele were on a campaign to wipe out the Shona and push them back east into Moz, etc. when Cecil Rhodes made his way north and eventually brokered a deal to stop it. My, how Zimbabwe might have been different had the Matabele been allowed to finish the job. . . .