Kuda Bwititi
Chief Reporter

Game-hunting is a lucrative business across wildlife-rich Africa, earning countries millions of dollars annually.
In Zimbabwe, it is managed and regulated by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Though Harare’s returns could not be immediately determined, South Africa rakes in over US$500 million annually.
A survey carried out by The Sunday Mail shows that Zimbabwe’s elephant trophy hunting is no less than US$10 000, with a German tourist paying US$50 000 in Gonarezhou National Park recently.

It costs at least US$5 000 to hunt lions and buffaloes, and US$3 000 for leopards and hippopotami.

Kudu attract roughly US$1 200 while US$600 is on the head of a zebra.

Warthogs anchor the list at US$300.

However, hunters, depending on the peculiarity of an animal, are often willing to part with more than the stated amount.

This is on top of daily charges for accommodation, food and transfers.

In an interview with this newspaper, chairman of the parliamentary committee of Environment, Water, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mr Wonder Mashange said earnings from trophy hunting should be publicised.

Mr Mashange said his committee will also probe how safari concessions are being awarded.

“We are concerned that such information is not being made public. We need to know how much we are earning from this industry. It is very disturbing that there is so much opaqueness.

“We need to see how much Government is getting from the entire business and how best we can share the cake with the communities in those areas where the hunting is taking place.”

Zimbabwe leads big game-hunting alongside South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Benin.

It is renowned for having the “Big Five” — the elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo — all of which are popular with tourists and hunters.

Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild game.

Usually, hunters target the oldest animal in a given population, preferably a male with the largest body size, antlers or horns.

This type of hunting can also be used to manage animal populations.

‘Government must act now’

Sunday Mail Reporter

Safari operators say authorities should work round the clock to get to the bottom of the latest spate of elephant killings in Hwange National Park as poaching is affecting their business.

Safari Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Emmanuel Fundira said: “The culprits who were involved in the heinous crimes that took place two years ago were apprehended and sentenced to long custodial sentences.
“Clearly, inasmuch as this was an appropriate measure, it is proving insufficiently deterrent, and should, therefore, be supported by other preventive measures.”

Mr Fundira also said, “More resources should be allocated to law enforcement agents, especially rangers. These rangers should also get the clothing and superior equipment to fight sophisticated and well-resourced criminals.

Presently, the resources are scarce, hardly making an impact.

“In addition, communities adjacent to wildlife areas should always serve as a defence line. It is my considered view that such a strategy could be more effective when such communities are seen to benefit directly from wildlife utilisation.”
Soaz is the country’s largest grouping of tourism service providers, many of them involved in hunting.