Zimbabwe once proudly stood as a premiere tourist destination
for the international photographic and hunting communities. It was renowned for its strong policies
on wildlife and environmental management and was also a popular
venue for academics and researchers.
Zimbabwe once boasted several ground breaking projects
in sustainable development.
However, the government sponsored chaos has virtually
destroyed the fragile balance between man and animal.
The impoverished rural population living in and around
designated conservation areas could have been well on the way
to a secure and happy future through smart partnerships with
the previous land owners and projects such as Campfire. Now the environment is ravaged and the
people are starving.
Due to the present regime's disastrous
land reform programme, poaching and
illegal hunting on farms, which were seized from their rightful
owners, have become rife.
Only a handful of the legal property owners remain. The
rest have been evicted by ruling party henchmen. There is no
law and order. Poaching and uncontrolled hunting is everywhere.
One such area that has been affected with dire consequence
is the Gwaai Valley Conservancy, in the west of the country.
This Conservancy was established 1995/6 and was strictly
controlled by the regulatory body, the Intensive Conservation
Authority (ICA). This watchdog body had the full support
and was accredited by numerous international conservation organizations.
In the past, at the start of each hunting
season, individual members of the Conservancy had to submit
their requests for hunting quotas to the ICA, who then rationalized
the information to ensure the Conservancy was not "over hunted".
The applications were then passed on to the National Parks
and Wildlife Management (NPWM).
The Gwaai Valley Conservancy once stood as an outstanding example of
sustainable development in a wildlife area, with prolific game
and huge ecotourism potential.
Today, not one of the Conservancy members remains in
the Gwaai. Its game has been reduced to an estimated 20% of
its previous glory and the people left there are all on the
verge of starvation.
Early in July 2003, all farmers in this
area, which borders Hwange National Park, were evicted. The Conservancy has now fallen prey to
unscrupulous hunting/safari operators from neighbouring South Africa
and Botswana. Other areas affected are Bubiana Conservancy,
Matetsi and West Nicholson.
Few, if any, of these illegal hunters have been registered
by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism and do not
hold accreditation with the Zimbabwe Association of Tourism
and Safari Operators. In addition, these hunters are working
against legislation that declares that in Zimbabwe operators
should either own or hold a lease on a suitable concession of
land with accompanying animal quota.
Some animals also require a Conference for International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit, such as crocodile,
leopard and cheetah.
Rates charged by the settlers are far below
the going rate and not one cent generated by these illegal hunts
is coming back into Zimbabwe.
Evidence for this theft is that illegal operators do
not adhere to the legislation that requires the foreign currency
generated be deposited with the Reserve Bank with the necessary
documentation.
Not only is the country losing the precious foreign
currency, but in the past the legal property owners in the conservancy
would also put a percentage of the money generated from hunting
back into improvements, building up stock and wildlife management. This is obviously not being done by the
illegal occupants.
In just
three short years, the country's rich wildlife reserves have
been decimated. Illegal hunting practices are now rife. If something is not done NOW, Zimbabwe
will be turned into yet another arid desert. Generations will
gasp in disbelief when shown photographs of its ruined ecosystem. The cost to Zimbabwe's heritage in financial
and environmental terms is immeasurable.
We must act now before
it is too late.
The following information can in some cases be supported
by documentary and photographic evidence
Listing of affected Gwaai farms
|
Name of Farm
|
Illegitimate State Beneficiary (or A2 Settler)
|
|
Lot 1 Dete Valley Farm
|
Ruben Makanla (ex International Red Cross Employee)
Jabulani Mpofu
|
|
Lot 2 Dete Valley - Lanamie Ranch
|
Eternity Trading (Pvt)Ltd
Director - Jonathan Moyo (Zanu
PF Information Minister)
|
|
Lot 3 Dete
Valley
(Lion Ranch)
|
Mrs Alice Nkomo
(Mzingili Safaris)
Cain Matema
(Zimbabwe Ambassador to Zambia)
|
|
Sekumi Estates
|
Jacob Mudenda
(Chairman of ZanuPF
for Matabeleland North)
Clifford Sibanda
Prisca Utete (ZBC manager)
|
|
Farm 31
- Railway Farm
(owner Delta Corp/Zim Sun)
|
Headman Sibanda
(ex National Parks)
|
|
Antoinette Ranch
(owner Sikumi Pvt Ltd)
|
Alexas Chiasa
David Ntini Mhlanga
|
|
Goodluck
Ranch
|
Mark Russell
(Current National Parks employee -Warden for Sinematela
Camp)
Headman Moyo
Curtain up Enterprises
|
|
Farm 35 - Railway Farm
|
Masala Sibanda
|
|
Chamankanu
Farm
|
Chris Dube
Joel Matema
(owns beer/store in
Lupane)
Bernard Lodlo (Lupani District Council employee)
|
|
Lugo Ranch
|
|
|
Sotani Ranch
|
Tshuma Ncube
Chief Mubikwa
(The current "gardener" at this farm is actually
a National Parks employee.)
|
|
Skukunwa
|
|
|
Hankano Ranch
|
|
|
Umkombo Ranch
|
|
|
Karna Block/Comwood Ranch
|
|
|
Gwaai Ranch
|
|
|
Karna Block West Registered as Tsankaruka Safaris
|
Chief Joseph Dingani
|
|
Karna Block East
|
Dr Zhisiiri
(Officer in Charge Matabeleland North - Veterinary
Department)
|
|
Farm 41
|
Obert Mpofu
(Governor Matabeleland North)
|
|
Kanando
|
Obert Mpofu
(Governor
Matabeleland North)
|
Unauthorized Hunting/Safari Operators,
operating in the Gwaai Conservancy.
Company: Out
of Africa Safaris
Owners:
Dawie Groenwaldt
Janeman Groenwaldt
Glen Van Rensburg
Nick Van Rensburg
Zimbabwe connection/operator - E K Safaris (Ed Kadzombe)
- Jacob Mudenda
Professional Hunters: Albert Padarizi - ex National Parks Pilot
Dawie Van Der Westhuizen (from Karoi)
American Agent:
Richard Putman from Seminole, Alabama
Website:
www.seminolesafaris.com
Vehicle numbers: DDM850N
MWF519N
Reported to be hunting
on Goodluck Farm.
Company:- Northern Weapons of Louis Trichardt
Owners:
Piet Uys
Hendrik Uys
Vehicle registration numbers: MWZ918GP - landcruiser
p/u
FBD185N
- white Toyota twincab
DPK173N - beige Landcruiser p/u
Reportedly hunting on: Goodluck
Railway Farm 37
Hankana Ranch
Gwaai Ranch
Between the 20-30 August Out of Africa and Northern Weapons
were seen hunting in the Gwaai area.
Company: Unkown
Zimbabwean farmers questioned illegal hunters on
their farm. The
name given to them of the South African hunters are:
Andre de Jaager Vehicle registration
number: DMT498GP
- Blue Landrover
R M Saunders - resides at Jacks
Rand Heart - Alberton
Zimbabwe connection/operator - Elephant Eye Safaris
The above were seen in the company of three American hunters.
De Jaager shot and wounded a buffalo on Sotani Ranch.
De Jaager is staying at the lodge on Chamankanu farm.
He has also been seen hunting on Lugo and Skukungwa farms.
He has been arrested twice for hunting illegally on Skukungwa
farm.
Company: Unknown
Relevant hunter:
Mark Sparrow - based in Pietersburg.
Sparrow has been hunting on Hankana Ranch and wants to
start a fishing safari business in Masuna island on the Zambezi. He has already made offers to property
owners from Masuna. This
desire to purchase land is not illegal, but is an indication
of his presence in the area.
Zim cell number: 011 211 080
Rsa cell number: 082 477 3620
Vehicle registration number 587
150F
He is involved with
the Uys brothers of Northern Weapons, Louis Trichardt.
Company: The Rock of Africa mission
Owner:
Henry Nel
(This individual is a story worth following. Nel is a minister in the Rock of Africa
Christian mission in Cape Town.
He apparently would not allow any blacks into his church
there, but is quite happy to form illicit liaisons with Zimbabweans.
He is apparently assisting a school in the Gwaai area
to justify his position there.
He is apparently working out of Kalambeza Lodge and one
of his clients shot a hippo on Sekumi estate in the latter part
of August.)
Zimbabwean Operators
Company: Zim Africa Safaris
Shaun Steyn
(Father Basil owns one of Southern Africa's largest
curio export companies, based in Bulawayo)
Partner:-
Joshua Nkomo's daughter
Hunted on Railway Farm 31 which is now owned by Delta Corporation/Zim
Suns and leased to hitherto unknown entity.
Company: Lalapanzi Safaris
Professional hunters - Jed Moyo
- Gary Hopkins
- Ben Matawadzi
- owner
Hunting on Antionette
Ivory Safaris
Pofessional Hunter - Bagman Chauke - hunting on
farm LOT 1
Jerome Sefredi -
French national selling hunts to French community.
Jerome's vehicle registration number:- 797-669F
Company: Zengela Safaris
Professional Hunter: Headman Ncube
This company is using Chamankanu Farm's operator's
license (number 0008) without the farm owner's permission and
on their prehunts have put the name Ugere/bo (Pvt) Ltd.
National Parks signed a blank prehunt form for their
activities and on another quota application the company Dream
Merchant Safaris, Box 56 Dete, was used, but gave no client
information and it does not state what farm the hunt was to
take place on.
They also have a prehunt form for a hippo.
Company: Inyati Hunters
Enio di Palma - owner (resident in Bulawayo)
Jacob Mudenda - consultant/associate (Chairman for
ZanuPF Matabeleland North)
Been hunting on Goodluck
Company:- Clapalark
Safaris
Operating in Matetsi and Kadoma
Company:- Curtain up Enterprises
New beneficiaries of Goodluck.
They have a Dete postbox and have been hunting on
Goodluck.
Zimbabwe Professional hunters - probably
freelancers
L Chikukwa
- working with Henry Nel
Evans Mukanza
In June 2003 he stated to reliable sources that he is able
to supply buffalo and elephant out of Sinamatella (This is within
the National Park).
National Parks staff taking a part in illegal operations
Elias Marfu - warden at Main camp - Malinde farm
Mark Russell - senior ranger Sinamatella - Goodluck
Ranch
Headman Sibanda - previously retired from National
Parks -
Albert Paradzi - pilot - previous employee of National
Parks
Bagman Chouke - previous employee of National Parks
Mark Russell was recently seen driving a National Parks
vehicle loaded with a full fuel drum and fuel containers from
Sinamatella camp (Hwange National Park) to Goodluck farm.
In August 2003 he was seen in Bulawayo in the company of
South African hunters.
Veterinary staff involved
Dr Zhisiiri - Officer in charge Mat North - A2 beneficiary
of Karna Block East.
Quota irregularities
- Gwaai Conservancy and ICA (Intensive
Conservation Area) do not allow hunting of hippo, reedbuck,
Grysbok. Bushbuck under special permit.
Hippo and reedbuck are on quota
issued for this area this season.
- A bushbuck was shot on
Antoinette farm without a permit.
There has never been a quota on
this property for bushbuck.
- Giraffe have also been
put on the quota for
Lot 1 of Dete Valley.
This quota was issued to Game View Safaris. P O Box 400 - Bulawayo. The size of the property is incorrect
on the quota form.
- One lioness was shot on
Lot 1 of Dete Valley.
No lioness on quota for this property.
- The Conservancy policy does not
allow tuskless and female elephants on quota. They have now been put on quota.
- It was stated on the quota that
"no hunting in the Dete Vlei or close to the lodges". A lioness was shot on Dete Vlei, by
the windmill, on Forestry boundry. The lioness was collared. The collar was tracked and found at
the homestead of an evicted farmer, which is now occupied
by an A2 settler.
- A bull elephant was shot on lot
1 Dete farm by Ruben Makanla's client.
- Aug 03 - 3 bushbuck shot
by South African Hunters
Bushbuck require a special permit
- none were issued.
- Aug 03 - 1 hippo bull shot.
The conservancy does not allow
the hunting of hippo.
- A quota was stamped by National
Parks. One animal
shot by the client on this hunt was not on the quota. For the other two of the animals
the quotas had already been exceeded.
The clients name was entered incorrectly.
- Another quota stamped by
National Parks was again incorrect.
3 Animals shot were not on the quota and 2 animals
had already exceeded the season's quota.
Animals shot
in this area since the evictions
- Antionette Farm owned by Sikumi
(Pty) Ltd - 2
Lioness and 3 male lions - these were
well known. One
of the collared lions was shot by a Russian client.
(Viktor Dmitrienko)
- Matapula hunters (Client) shot
one male lion.
- Mr De Jaager wounded a buffalo
on Sotani ranch.
- 1 hand reared female buffalo
- axed on the head and killed.
- Known animals shot by illegal
hunting operators:
9 Buffalo, 3 Sable, 4 Impala,
1 Bushpig, 2 Zebra, 1 Leopard, 1 Elephant, 2 Kudu,
3 Bushbuck, 1 Hippo, 2 Waterbuck.
Poaching activities reported recently
One of the worst reports received is around the dam on
Sotani Ranch. 17 buffalo and 2 sable were found in a snare line.
2 eland cows and a kudu snared two days after the departure
of the recently evicted farm owner at the waterhole in front
of the camp on Lion ranch.
August 03 - 18 impala carcasses seen on Sikumi Estate.
Apparently half were for sale and half were for the youth
camp at Kamativi.
Other activities
in this area
Bindonvale\Carlisa (owned by a German National)
Clifford Sibanda and Mark Russell ransacked the
camp and took all the teak furniture for their operation. Removed all the window and door frames.
Fencing has also been stolen.
Sikumi Estate - Crocodile farm. The
crocodiles went without food for 10 days, as the property owner
was not allowed on to the property.
The crocodiles started eating each other.
1000 crocodiles have died as they were not fed since
21 June 03.(unconfirmed)
Lion Ranch - Two tame lions went without food for 10 days, as the property owner
was not allowed on to the property.
Lot 2 Dete Valley Farm
- A tracking collar off a lioness (Lion research collar), was
found in the homestead.
Hwange Safari Lodge Hunters are reported to be staying at this hotel, major shareholders
are ZanuPF. One
of the companies is Out of Africa Safaris.
24 July - 3 South African Landcruises were seen
in the area. All
vehicles had removed their number plates.
An occupant of one vehicle were seen bribing the official
at the veterinary road block. Another was seen driving onto
Goodluck Farm.
Hunting blinds have been built at a number of water
points.
2 September - four Americans were seen arriving
in Victoria Falls. They
were collected by a South African operator and were overheard
saying they wanted to shoot as much as possible.
4 September - Residents of the Gwaai have
reported a significant increase in aircraft movement at night.
There is general speculation that trophies are probably being
shipped out under the cover of dark.
4 September - At approximately 11h00 - a white landrover
belonging to Out of Africa Safaris was seen dropping zebra meat
at the PTC offices in Vic Falls.
Vehicle registration FBT052N.
Public vehicles are not permitted into this area.
4 September - Many of the rightful Gwaai
property owners are now being threatened by the new settlers.
Vehicle numbers
These vehicles were involved in the eviction of
the farmers and their workers