The Sunday Mail
Outrage over Cecil the lion’s death in Africa
Abigail Mawonde and Samantha Chigogo
Gwayi Conservancy farmer Honest Trymore Ndlovu and a professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst, are expected to appear in court today in Victoria Falls for allegedly conniving to kill one of the oldest lions at Hwange National Park. The case is being handled by Victoria Falls police. The lion was well known and regularly sighted by tourists in the main camp area of Hwange National Park.
It attracted many tourists who paid over $100 000 annually to view it.
The lion was popularly known as Cecil and its slaughter on July 1 this year triggered a worldwide outcry among game enthusiasts.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Emmanuel Fundira, said the death of Cecil was a major blow to the tourism sector.
“Cecil was our main tourist attraction with a market value pegged at over $100 000. His death is a loss to the tourism sector because of his popularity with the international community, which saw several tourists flocking Hwange National Park to see him,” he said.
Mr Fundira said a person found guilty of killing a lion in Zimbabwe was likely to be fined $20 000 or jailed for 10 years.
“This punishment is, however, not enough given the revenue Cecil was bringing into the country.”
Cecil (Laying on the grass) the lion has been fondly remembered as “confident and regal” by the man who followed him for nine years and took his final photograph
The hunter, Bronkhorst’s licence (number 553) has since been revoked, while the lion trophy has also been confiscated by the State.
Bronkhorst registered with Bushman Safaris, is facing criminal charges for allegedly killing a collared lion at Antoinette Farm in Gwayi Conservancy in Hwange District.
It is alleged that the hunter connived with the Antoinette land owner, Ndlovu to kill the lion. In a joint statement yesterday, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director general Mr Edison Chidziya and Mr Fundira, said the ongoing investigations to date suggested that the killing of the lion was illegal.
The land owner had not been allocated a lion on his hunting quota for 2015.
“Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management as the Regulatory Authority and custodian of all wild animals in Zimbabwe, issues permits and hunting quota for all hunting areas in Zimbabwe so that only animals on quota are hunted.
“In this case, both the professional hunter and the land owner had no permit or quota to justify the off take of the lion and therefore are liable for the illegal hunt,” reads the statement.
Efforts were also being made to interview another professional hunter, Zane Bronkhorst, licence number 558, who was also involved in the illegal hunt hence rendering all persons implicated in the case liable to appearing in court facing poaching charges.
