The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo and Itai Mazire
GOVERNMENT has suspended hunting of lions, leopards and elephant around Hwange National Park.
This follows the arrest of safari operator Headman Sibanda last week for allegedly breaching hunting regulations. He becomes the third person to be arrested following the illegal hunting down of Cecil, a lion popular with foreign tourists.
Two other suspects, Theo Bronchorst and Honest Ndlovu, have already appeared in court on charges related to Cecil’s poaching, and are out on US$1 000 bail each.
Government is also seeking the extradition of an American dentist Dr Walter Palmer for shooting the prized big cat.
The killing of the 13-year old lion sparked outrage in the Western media and Government has introduced a cocktail of measure to plug illegal hunting.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Mr Edison Chidziya said bow hunting had also been suspended with immediate effect while professional hunters found in breach of the law would be banned for life.
Those who are currently in the field on hunting trips are also covered by the news measures.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Chidziya said professional hunting would “only be conducted if confirmed and authorised in writing by the director-general of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and only if accompanied by parks staff whose costs will be met by the landowner”.
“Any case of quota transfer is regarded as poaching. The Authority will not hesitate to arrest, prosecute, and ban for life any persons including professional hunters, clients and land owners who are caught on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
The National Parks boss advised professional hunters to familiarise themselves with the country’s statutes.
“Following the illegal killing of an iconic lion, Cecil, outside the Hwange National Park on Antoinette Farm in Gwayi River Conservancy on the 1st of July 2015, it has become necessary that the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority further tightens hunting regulations in all areas outside the Parks estate,” he said.
Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Emanuel Fundira welcomed Government’s measures to fight illegal hunting.
