Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has charged that Zambia will not bow down to pressure and reverse the decision to allow hunting of Big Cats.
Mrs Kapata said threats by international charity Lions Aid to report Zambia to the EU and the US for a possible ban of its tourism products are nonsensical.She said Zambia is a sovereign state that will make its own decisions in the best interest of its people.
Mrs Kapata said the decision is final and no amount of pressure from anyone will force the PF government to change its stance on the matter.
In an interview, Mrs Kapata wondered why people are putting pressure on Zambia when other countries have continued Big Cats hunting.
‘Zambia is a sovereign nation and our neighbouring nations have been doing Cat hunting and they are not talking about those countries. As Minister of Tourism, I know that those that are talking too much are the ones that lost the bid for hunting blocks and they have now gone to lobby NGOs so that hunting is stopped.I will not listen to such,’ she said.
She maintained that hunting of Big Cats has always been done in Zambia adding that the reason it was lifted was because there were no regulations.
‘Now we have the regulations, we are saying only hunt two and no hunting of young ones. So please, we are not going to be bow down to pressure from NGOs, we are doing it for the communities so that people can benefit from the resources.’
She said it is nonsensical to threaten that Zambian tourism products will be banned from the EU and US markets.
‘’Let them go ahead and report, that is all I can say, let them go ahead and petition us. We have nothing to do with that ourselves.’
She added, ‘We are not saying we are going to kill all Lions and Leopards. We did an aerial survey and we have more Lions and Leopards and we are only hunting those that are old that are out of the pride.’
Such arrogance will take you nowhere. Learn to listen and dialogue with all the relevant stakeholders. Zambia is not an island.
Such an empty and hollow statement coming from a PF cabinet minister. Did anyone expect an intelligent response? 50% of our children are stunted, so what? It has always been like that. Same with Lions, we have always killed them, so we shall continue, ifintu ni Lungu! some say nafilugula
“PF spends more than K16,790 per day on Christine Kaseba’s stay at No.8 Reedbuck Lodge”
With such reckless spending, on the back of the poor, Zambia is doomed.
Kapata has to find the money for PF spend to continue to spend recklessly on people like Kaseba, who was recieving K1.5 million cash to spend any how for the time Sata was president.
With PF at the helm, big cats if not all animals, will be extinct.
What does Jean Kapata know about wildlife?
The BBC reported this irresponsibility of regrettables & visionless PF lunatics. It seems PF want to raise salaries for civil servants via an extinction of wildlife, especially the cat family.
Poor PF, very broke & have resorted to selfishly slaughter the innocent animals. There goes Tourism industry as the animals in the country become extinct b’coz PF have no plan for the state! Remember the leadership confessed to being visionless.
Ms Kapata, tell your Lungu & PF BANDITS that the ECONOMY & KWACHA are still ROTTING. Leave the DPP Nchito alone. Where is $193 million PF is hiding?
The Skeleton Key
~206~
the most stupid government zambia has ever had.
Quote: “…We did an aerial survey and we have more Lions and Leopards…”
Madam, if an aerial survey was done why in TRANSPARENCY’S name don’t you give concrete census figures of these cats to backup your claims? Frankly, the figures you have given so are NOT enough to sustain big cat hunting as a money generating venture either for the Govt or the surrounding communities.
Quote: “…I know that those that are talking too much are the ones that lost the bid for hunting blocks and they have now gone to lobby NGOs so that hunting is stopped.”
Well, if the many CITIZENS against this policy are one huge NGO, then you are right Madam. Otherwise, you sound soooo… out of touch!
If you don’t care about groups like “Lions Aid”, at least care about what ZAMBIANS are saying.
I like her- she stands by her actions
She would have been seen to be weak to reverse her decision
A future presidential candidate she is for me
Thanks
Bb2014
YES INDEED THIS WOMAN IS ARROGANT. JEAN AND HER OTHER SELFISH FRIENDS ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THE DECISION TO LIFT THE BAN ON SLAUGHTER OF BIG CATS, NOT THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.WE ARE ZAMBIANS AND WE ARE SAYING THESE ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KILLED, LET’S CONSERVE THEM. NO KILLING OF SUCH ANIMALS IS ALLOWED IN BOTSWANA AND NAMIBIA, SO WHICH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES IS JEAN REFERRING TO HERE? ZIMBABWE?
They only dialogue with miners these empty tins…this is pure cadre mindset….” those opposing are people who lost ….” What aerial survey is this dull woman talking about? If she did a survey why can’t she not give us a headcount of animals on the ground?
Kapata, does not know how this move will discourage tourists from coming to Zambia on ethical grounds.
This move has began to raise a lot dust already on the international tourism market. Most ethical tour promoters and operators will deliberately delete Zambia on their pamphlets and websites to discourage tourists from visiting Zambia. Only a small group of selfish hunters will come at discounted fee of course.
What will now happen is that, once the Zambian tourist market dries up, the same selfish Big Cat Hunters will turn around and demand for a 60% discount in fees owing to diminishing demand for Zambia’s tourism caused by fewer tourists visiting Zambia on purely on ethical grounds.
PF always does the total opposite of what is good for the country.But why…
It has taken her somewhere, the ban remains.
Ha ha ha ha aaah! Okay ati mwalanda mayo, “sovereign state!” you’ll soon learn the hard way as you’ll be made to swallow your arrogance the hard way as you realize the stupidity of your utterances!
Lionaid is the arrogant party. Look at their annual report and all their budget. They spend about US$30,000 per year with $8000 on salaries and they are trying to ban Zambia’s tourism exports!
Lioaid is the fraudulent organization.
Great point bana Kapata!!
The trend of primitive Zambian men stripping women naked in public is not right and it should be stopped!!
Mobs of classless stinking men surround a beautiful woman and rip away her clothes until she is naked.
Primitive Zambian man be civilized its none of their business what someone is wearing.
Shame on these lowlifes, when did anyone’s dressing became another person’s business?
These savages are potential rapists who should rot in jail
The last time i checked God created us naked and in African culture women wore bark-skin “G-String” IMIBINDE & topless… Chitenge’S AND SALAULA WERE BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOREGINERS
Shame on you Zambian *****s!!
Has Jean Kapata been stripped. Please you filthy men leave the woman alone, she has just counted the lions & leopards like the way you do at under five clinic. After all she’s ZEN. LOL
Relax, lions! When PF says something is “irreversible”, a flip-flop is coming up for sure.
How are they going to ensure that only old lions are hunted if they can’t even control their cadres on the street? If they controlling officers are offered some cash dollars to allow hunters hunt indiscriminately, are they going to refuse it with little money in their pockets now prevailing.
This is the foolishness that will end her career. Watch this space. Such arrogance ataseh.
Zambia is a Christian nation. Jehovah God, values ALL creation and hates killing animals for sport or fun. All animals are God’s creation and He feeds them (Psalm 147:9). God also preserves these animals (Psalms 36:6). All animals are part of Jehovah God’s ecosystem, each creation has a major role to play in the cycle of life.
Revelation 11:18 says God will bring to ruin those ruining this earth. If we are truly following the Bible principles, as a Christian nation, we will not deliberately kill innocent animals for fundraising money to benefit a few individuals.
Let us protect nature and respect all living beings as God’s creation.
Just because other nations are killing big cats for sport does not make it right. We are a Christian nation.
Very dull person. Just like her boss.
This woman sounds like a parrot. She is just the messenger, so I will not shoot. She did not initiate this, so she can not stop it.
But there is a way to stop all this madness and arrogance.
2016.
Nothing is irreversible with 90 Days PF!
Jean Kapata we’ve heard such tantrums before from one Chishimba Kambwili when he stated that in no uncertain terms would the name of the now Heroes Stadium going to change but remain as Gabon Disaster Stadium. now check if thats what we call that stadium. very soon you will come down from that high horse of arrogance you’re riding
Sometimes you just have to wonder and shake your head in embarrassment. Its like we are cursed to have people like Jean Kapata in leadership positions to make decisions on our behalf. This woman is a danger to humanity.
how can you do an aerial survery when most leopard are sitting/lying up in dense trees – how do you spot them when it is difficult to spot them from the ground. who did the survey? we want facts not just statements!!!!!!
Since hyena’s always follow lions I suspect the aerial survey was including the hyena’s. When was this “survey” done by the way? She is beginning to sound like someone who has been bribed by hunters mama dont eat bribes before finalising issues
Since when has ZAWA ever had a helicopter to do animal census as a fixed wing plane could not fly slow and low to spot the cats in dense bush, but maybe the new Russian helicopters will be used………….
What is zambia going to benefit from a cat that will die on its own maybe in 6 months time. The problem with some of you clowns who ve never seen a lion or being to any park thinks when 10 cats are killed thats the end of them. These animals die on their own and the carcus is then feasted upon by other animals and no ! Diots talk. We have many cats in zambia which even your great great grand children will find and also kill just like we kill them.
Too much empty drums in the opposition.
@spongy bob: Plenty of us are NOT in the opposition or ruling party. But to tell you the TRUTH, Kapata/PF are completely WRONG on this one!
PF prides itself as a LISTENING GOVERNMENT, but this statement from Tourism Minister, Kapata, is very arrogant and out of character for a listening Govt. She shouldn’t be so boneheaded as to feel she has all the answers to issues of National interest. The moment a Govt and its Ministers start behaving in this manner, just know they are simply putting a down-payment on a political-burial-plot for their careers—continue on such a misguided path and the end for PF will be swift and complete.
And I think it is very naive of you to equate what occurs naturally in the wild to man’s unnatural ways of tampering with nature. Get a grip!
Please take a good look, who is hunting the lions? Who is standing, kneeling, smiling next to the dead lion? Have you seen a black Zambian in any of the photographs? Oh no it is foreigners, this decision is to satisfy the needs of the Western world and not the Zambian people who voted these politicians in power. Such an irresponsible decision at this point in time.
I totally agree with you all the way. Great point!
BEFORE MAKING NOISE,PLIZ THINK.HUNTING IS NORMAL,WAT MATTERS IS REGULATION.BESIDES WATS THE FUSS ON A LION.THESE PIPO HUNTING WILL PAY ALOT OF HUNTING FEES.ARE THEY SAYING THEY WILL FINISH ALL THE LIONS?HOW MANY OF U EVER GO TO WATCH THESES SAME LIONS?
You regulate simple budget spending…..you honestly think you can regulate shooting of lions at $25000 a head.
wake up!!
Ha. Let Lions Aid report South Africa and Zimbabwe first, they kill many many many more lions and also elephants
Using that wonderful logic if your neighbors daughter is a prostitute or son a thief will you also encourage yours to be one too?
In fact that photograph is from a South African hunting website
Indeed Zambia is a Sovereign country and should articulate its own destiny. However, on this topic of culling the big cats so that we can finance the Game Rangers due the lack of funding from Government, is being challenged by us the Zambians and not the International Organisations. That being the case the Minister should not take the easy option of killing cats with no control or hardly any controls in place to ensure the targeted number and specific cats are killed. If our tourism is harnessed properly we can rip much more than what the trophy hunters can bring to our country.
The Minister should be encouraging alternative thought process rather than playing the almighty that her decision is final. I foresee the President reversing the decision then what Madam Minister with your…
“In the best interest of its people”. Even this money will simply be swallowed up by the high government expenditure on individual Ministers, Deputy Ministers, DCs, etc. They all drive expesive vehicles worth more than K500,000.00, fuel paid for, furniture, cell phones, Air tickets, etc. In other words, “it is in your best interest madam!”
They say, “Charity begins at home”, very true indeed. Our leaders are very corrupt and they have failed to take care of people in the country. Do we really think that they will care about animals?
Well, lets see if the minister will still be this hard headed once another party takes over and reverses this evil policy.
The minister should have protected our interests as zambia. If the numbers are as high as she claims, I think proof of an independant census would have sufficed. Not this let them do what they want attitude. It shows the govt doesnt want to listen to its people. I hope shes saying this from a position of power.
What does Zambia own? The same animals are in the hands of foreigners, huge tracks of land, minerals are all controlled by foreigners. This is something that is not done in other countries, but here it is business as usual. Sometimes I feel ashamed to be a Zambian.
Most of the comments above are devoid of knowledge or substance. I cant think of one country in the world that does not allow controlled hunting of species that may be in excess. Even Royalty in Britain hunt as a hobby! I have not heard any NGOs calling for expulsion of Britain from the EU.
Perhaps what we should ask to be explained is population of our Lions, criteria for hunting and numbers to be expended in any given year. I am sure all these details have been worked out. Perhaps also not so clear is how they will ensure the hunting licenses are not abused through corruption and other such vices.
Lets us be practical and not just oppose everything because it coming from Lungu and PF government. God does not judge our actions including our words but judges our motives.
Mfumukazi: Lets not use God’s name in vain. God can not permit people to kill animals for fun/ sport. God only permit people to hunt animals for food. As far as I know, Lion meat is not edible in Zambia.
This irreversible decision has just reversed my wasted vote on PF , 2016 I will vote for the lions.
Bloggers who are living overseas shouldn’t even consider themselves as zambians . When we talk we just make noise to our selves because no leader in govt take us seriously. Reason being that we comment on false and misleading stories from on line media. The truth of the matter lies entirely on the soils of zambia and not on Internet.
This is one arrogant woman! How is hunting of big cats in the interest of the Zambian people? This is a show of gnorance from this minister!
Wake up woman and see what people are talking about. This is the same arrogance that was displayed by Sata when he talked about wild animals vid a vis people.
This arrogance by this government is sickening. Kapata and her cabinet colleagues will live to regret this pigheadedness. Zimbabwe is on its knees now because of such foolish pride.
Back to the colonial era when the whites hunted indiscriminately!
Racist cunt. More animals are destroyed by illegal poaching by black Africans.
This is total foolishness. Madam Kapata you foolish decision is not in our interest. It is in your own personal interest! I’m very upset!
Kapata bushe ni lion ya nyoko iye kolokombwa
Surely the minister stand at platform and say for the benefit of zambian people. Which people does she mean?, as far as am concerned, hunting benefit us for two days and photographic safari gaurantee us future.
How do you say we have plenty lions, where are they? I live in south luangwa and am saying this as i see the lions.
The agreement is between government officials and hunters do not include zambia people at large please you are offending us
The message couldn’t have been more louder “We the gov’t make decisions for ourselves and not the so called people who claim to have put us in government”.
At least that is my interpretation of the minister’s statement there.
I mean just a quick glance at the message board on this article will tell anyone that 99% of posters believe the decision should be reversed. Then for whose benefit is the minister making the decision if the owners (the people) are saying “we prefer live Big Cats to dead ones?
The nurse has hit a road block on this one and feeling very dizzy, and fresh out of ideas. She wants to be minister yet has no education, qualifications or skills to be in that position. When tourists boycott coming to Zambia means no multiplier effect going into the economy. Notice she always has white men by her side when doing speeches as a precautionary measure in case she messes up. This is to show no one has confidence in her and they probably write the things she says. What’s up with the arrogance all of a sudden? Whatever happened to stakeholders: tour operators, public sector organisations, regulatory bodies, distributors, tourism agencies, NGO’s, tourists, locals, businesses etc. She cannot simply make a decision alone as everyone has a say. Conserve & protect silly Kapata.
If you are so bloody concerned then why don’t you out forward the money that Zambia will gain from just one professional hunt of a lion. Or rather give you values pennies to that fraud of an organization called Lionaid. They are criminals who are using the sympathy for the lions cards and stealing your money. Why don’t you realize that. Put up or shut up!!
Some of us living in villages are happy that some of these creatures should be killed mwe.
We such see were that kind of talk will take you don’t play with super powers you will only be having tourists from China.
Hey Madam Minister, why are you being so sinister?
A democratic government MUST be willing to reverse every decision rejected by the people! Failure to do so signifies you do not respect the peoples’ voice. It is the people who put you in office and if you waste your opportunity to serve them, you do not deserve to serve them!
We the people of Zambia reprimand you to reverse your despicable decision or exit your post.
Whatever happened to stakeholders: Public, Private sector companies, NGO’s, Communities, Tourists etc. I am a Zambian and want to be able to make my decisions on this topic. Who is Kapata to make such unrealistic decisions. This is what happens when you elect PF in power, they forget who got them there. We can’t be silenced and have rights and freedom of speech or is she taking that away from us? Arrogance get’s you nowhere and people will only despise you. Learn to work with people instead of telling them what to do. Sharing of ideas is a good thing and a good way of learning from stakeholders. You have a real challenge in your hands which is thinking 1980’s tourism when we have a globalized world that is changing everyday. We need critical thinking that will move a nation forward.
“….Zambia is a sovereign state that will make its own decisions in the best interest of its people.”
Sorry, but that sovereignty was lost the minute the government started begging other nations for money (loans/grants etc)to support it’s economy. As soon as the U.S. & EU governments protest, the PF Government will come crawling for mercy.
You have hit the nail squarely on the head. What sovereinty can Zambia talk about when even its so called national buidget is funded by donations from other countries. Even police and army uniforms are donated by other countries such as Libya during the time of Gaddafi. What a sovereign country!
Welcome back, Mushota. You are such a breath of fresh air compared to someone calling themselves Hildah chakuti.
Awisi Tasila needs to show leadership here and stop this nonsense. In fact he needs to fire this minister for alarming the nation and the tourist world at large. This is no way for a minister to talk to stakeholders….as if she and her PF own the Lions.
No wonder they are contemplating reverting to one party state.
Calibre of current crop of MINIsters is unbelievable and astonishing!
Zambia is drifting ever so steadily into the stone age.
Or back to 2011 – back to the times of RB, Mwanawasa, Chiluba and Kaunda when lions were hunted as a normal thing. It’s only PF who has ever even banned it! And you talk of the stone age…
NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED THE ECONOMIC GAIN OF KILLING LIONS, LEOPARDS, CHEETAHS OR ANY OF THE BIG CATS. MEANING, THERE’S NO REAL ECONOMIC GAIN AT ALL. WHY WOULD ANY ONE WITH HIS/HER BRAINS IN THEIR SKULL SUGGEST OR EVEN DREAM OF KILLING CATS. MIND YOU, ENGLAND AND EUROPE ALSO USED TO HAVE THESE BIG CATS. STUPID AND RECKLESS KILLING OF CATS PUT THEM INTO EXTINCT. ZAMBIA IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS MEN AND WOMEN IN AUTHORITY WHO FIND MAKING FOOLISH DECISION SO EASY. THERE’S A VERY PROFITABLE WAY OF MAKING MONEY FROM BIG CATS. BY CREATING WELL DESIGNED ALMOST NATURAL ENVIRONMENT PARKS NEAR CITIES WHERE NATURAL SELECTION TAKES PLACE WHILE PEOPLE WATCH AS THEY VISIT THESE PARKS. THE WAY KRUGER PARK IN SA HAS BEEN DESIGNED. MILLIONS OF VISITORS FROM ALLOVER THE WORLD GO THERE TO WATCH.
Question for people attacking PF for reversing their own decision. Would your parties have been bold enough to even contemplate such a decision?
@Peter 90. Maybe its because people are now more educated than ever and have morals. Surely in 2015 we are going to be thinking 1970’s style of thinking in tourism? Do you know there is a link between tourism and poverty alleviation? If managed properly it can provide employment especially for people in rural areas. Have you ever imagined women in rural areas being tour guides and them providing a niche market for women tourists who are comfortable around other women such as Arabs? It can start off with one woman being trained then she trains four and so on and this can empower women, create jobs, put food on plates and pay rent. The world is changing everyday and Zambians are getting an education and sharing new ways and methods. Your nurse minister needs to change her way of thinking!
Yap yap yap, very few above have brought progressive ideas. You yap without thinking. Bring out facts to support your stand. Sop just politicking. Uncontrolled cats can deplete other animals that tourists need to see too. Even domestic animals and human beings are being attacked in some parts of Zambia.
WELL DONE Mrs Kapata! It’s time the emotional and selfish, Eurocentric views thrust upon us in Africa as to what we may or may not do are discredited. Here in SA our government bowed to western emotions and forced our SANParks to stop culling in Kruger National Park. Now, an overabundance of elephant is wiping out habitat to the degree that Sable & Roan are un-sustainable.
African successes from African opportunities should prevail!
You people suprise.The hunting of big cats has always being there in Zambia.The reason PF banned it was because there were no or loose regulation in this business.If you dont know some tourist come to Zambia for the sole reason to hunt big cats.But this is done within the realm of the laws and regulations.You remeber, some chaps complained when the ban was imposed due to the lose of income.It is not like people will be allowed to freely go into the bush and engage in wanton or indiscremenate hunting of these precious resource, NO! Tourist are guided by ZAWA what and where to hunt and how many.The same tourist pay alot of money in revenue to ZAWA .Part of the proceeds go to local communities who benefits from the endowment.
Dear minister,
Please make the method of counting lions and leopards public.
Most parties in the field agree that there can’t be more than 1500
lions in Zambia. NOT 4000! Please explain.
Or maybe you have to pay back some favors for the elections?
Are you saying Zambians cannot count? Lions are plenty and are destroying farmers livelihoods.
Nurse turned minister yangu! Is it because she was a failed nurse that she turned into tourism minister? Hopeless woman and hopeless people supporting her. Amano yasuma. An empty tin can is hopeless.
Rules? Rules for Killing?
Killers of wildlife don’t follow rules.
They already break the biggest rule: thou shalt not kill!
Rules – “please don’t kill the young ones.”
Zambia Minister: You must be the dumbest person on Earth.