Hunting Proceeds Rake in $12 Billion Per Month

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: September 27, 2005

Author: Anon

ZIMBABWE is earning over $12 billion a month as hunting proceeds since the beginning of the hunting season in May this year.

The hunting season ends next month.

The major players, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Communal Areas Management Programme For Indigenous Resources (Campfire) have recorded brisk business in their prime hunting areas.

A multifarious array of thick hunting forests and a variety of good trophy wildlife make Zimbabwe one of the hunting paradises of the world.

Parks and Wildlife Authority Director General, Dr Morris Mtsambiwa said despite negative publicity campaigns by some conservation organisations from European countries, the hunting sector in Zimbabwe remained brisk business with the authority realising over $7 billion from hunts per month.

He said the positive situation that has seen the authority performing better was a result of more understanding and appreciation by hunters of high quality trophies found in Zimbabwe's prime hunting areas such as Hwange and the Zambezi Valley.

"Hunting activities in Gwayi, Matetsi and Zambezi Valley areas remain vibrant and this year we have auctioned over 50 hunts in the Zambezi area to big safari companies that are doing all the marketing on our behalf," Dr Mtsambiwa said.

Dr Mtsambiwa, who recently attended several meetings with various wildlife organisations in the USA for purposes of marketing the country's wildlife, said it was clear that organisations from that country had not banned hunters to come and hunt in Zimbabwe.

He said due to the misrepresentation of facts about the situation in Zimbabwe by some elements, there were fears of the unknown by some hunters who have since started visiting the country and seen for themselves that it was safe.

Dr Mtsambiwa said contrary to reports that anyone who came to Zimbabwe should do so at his or her own risk as all hunting areas have been invaded by war veterans, there was still serious and professional business in all hunting areas.

"It is a fact that those who have been here before enjoy our wilderness, which is uniquely Zimbabwean. That exciting experience prompts those who understand and enjoy the wild to keep coming back to the country's advantage," he said.

He said the Government had empowered some indigenous people with a traceable background in wildlife management skills. Dr Mtsambiwa said the Zambezi Valley, which is the home of the elephant, buffalo, impala and the zebra has come up to be the most attractive hunting area for hunters who come as far as UK and France.

Campfire director Mr Charles Jonga conceded that hunters' arrivals remained consistent in the last four years.

He said on a monthly basis Campfire generates up to $5 billion in hunts in all its areas and on average posts more than $60 billion per year.

"There has been a few cancellations but they have not really made a significant negative impact on the hunting sector. Where we have not exceeded our target, it was because of a depressed exchange rate that affected our revenue base," Mr Jonga said.

He said some hunters who had thought Zimbabwe was unsafe later discovered the truth after making their own consultations and started hunting operations in areas of their choice.