Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has lifted the ban on Safari hunting which was imposed by her predecessor Sylvia Masebo last year.
Ms Kapata has told a media briefing in Lusaka today that government has revisited the position on hunting in order to avoid erosion of the sense of ownership of animals in local communities and reduction of vigilance which could result in a worsened poaching situation.
Ms. Kapata adds that the suspension of wild Cat hunting will still remain in force until a survey to ascertain their numbers plus other considerations and measures to ensure their sustainability are put in place.
The Minister adds that a position will be made very soon on the way forward with regards the Hunting blocks Concession Tender by the Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) which was also suspended due to inability to select outfitters in Game Management areas arising from a flawed process in the Tender.
Ms. Kapata further states that her ministry has put in place measures to ensure that sanity prevails in Wildlife Safari Hunting Management which include hunting being conducted at least two kilometers beyond the boundary of a National Park.
Helping Zawa staff on conditions as they serve will also be important Example Construction of housing schools clinics or hospital including other social amerties may help the men and women looking after the resource in alternative investments commonly refered as world life traded and speculated upon across to our own blindness and passiveness where as many make more dollars and euros by trading those rights and licences to hurt even a single elephant impala or rabbit
Camps like Ngoma Chunga and mumbwa ZAWA needs a lot in terms of the above to support the development of this sector most neglected but yet exploited and traded upon in rights to hunt across on reknowed markets
This is a balanced decision. Wild cats should remain protected. For local communities hunting is a cultural way of life and they should not feel disenfranchised by over the top western influenced policies. A tight control is necessary to prevent poaching activities.
The arbitrage opportunity in these concessions/rights is quiet huge Its time ZAWA ESTABLISHED its own auctioning system like in the germstone industry and benefits big time
Wild life is just like any other tradeable commodity or asset its supposed to make returns on the investments on the bottom line and that contribution on the top line its like you look at the cost in naturing and the revenues being derived and assess the contribution of those concessions
If I am a game trader I will simply buy 20 herds of buffalo and sell them off cap for 5000 to10000 usd against 2500 zmk or 5000
Establish own structure in ZAWA to deal not only promotion buy selling of wild and artifacts as well
It becomes transparent, removing the myths surrounding the same ,gaining in efficient , inviting quality concessions ,there by reducing losses on rights given against sold
Also widening the tourist net giving gains to ZAWA in turn This not only on hunting but also on live buyouts and sell to restock other wild farms and parks
The costs of nurturing protecting ZAWA parks should be re could and make ZAWA men and women look respectable like other in Okavango regions and Kruger parks
Toil gates also at park entry can help to restore and maintain tracks like done elsewhere both for vehicles and individuals being carried