Work Together, Nhema Tells Safari Operators

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: 29 November 2006

Author: Anon

SAFARI operators need to closely work together and mobilise financial resources needed to fulfil their obligations in the wildlife sector, Environment and Tourism Minister Cde Francis Nhema has said.

He was speaking during the first annual general meeting of the Safari Operators' Association in Bulawayo last Friday.

Cde Nhema said the Government was aware that under the current economic environment where the allocation of funds and resources is limited, there are challenges in the development of the sector, particularly in the training of professional hunters.

"Total conservation of natural resources can only be achieved with your full co-operation and participation in areas that need development and not only depend on Government's initiatives."

He said it is therefore important for safari operators to organise themselves into effectively functional bodies such as the Safari Operators' Association of Zimbabwe.

Two safari operators' groups, the Zimbabwe Indigenous Safari Operators' Association and the Zimbabwe Association of Tour and Safari Operators, last year amalgamated to rationalise the common interests of the two associations in the hunting arena.

"The hunting safari industry should now be able to speak with one voice when addressing issues of mutual interest with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority with on top of their agenda, the protection of wildlife and prioritising the adoption of a professional approach," he said.

Wildlife experts yesterday said the Government had created a system of protected areas constituting 13,1 percent of the country's total land area.

This, they said, makes it a challenge to contend with all eventualities such as the huge home ranges of the animal species and prevention of all anti-conservation activities such as poaching.

They said the observance of ethical hunting standards is also critical for the sustainable conservation and hunting operations to be able to maintain annual off-takes within the set quota limits and account for all animals shot.

In an interview yesterday, Cde Nhema said it is in his ministry's responsibility to ensure that valuable wildlife assets are protected for future generations to enjoy the same stock of resources, and enhanced as demanded by the concept of sustainable development.

"My ministry is working hard to ensure there is cohesion and joining of hands in the establishment of anti-poaching units with industry, police and parks authority in protecting both wildlife and faunal species."

He added that his ministry is also emphasising on gathering and analysing hunting data to help improve and maintain the trophy quality.

"In instances where trophy quality is seen to be declining, quotas are reduced or as in the case of lions, we have effected a hunting moratorium of that specie until the quality recovers."

Tourism remains a key foreign currency earner for the country and in recent months has received a lot of attention under the National Economic Development Priority Programme's Tourism, Image and Communications Taskforce.