This is the response of ZAWA on their previous press release ‘Minister lifts ban on hunting‘:
Contrary to widespread blatant misinformation reports on social media and some sectors of the media that the hunting ban on elephants has been lifted, The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) would like to inform members of the public and the international community that this is not the case.
The ban on hunting of elephants and cats is still in effect. ZAWA would also like to state that even before the ban was affected, Zambia was never been a pro-elephant hunting nation. In the last 10years, even before the ban, hunting of elephants in Zambia has been at the lowest and quotas significantly small in the region and was restricted to two out of the 36 Game Management Areas (GMA’s) in Zambia, namely, Rufunsa and Lupande. And the only reason for hunting in these areas was because they were overly populated and causing human wildlife conflicts. Initially, ZAWA would simply control (kill) the animals. But this was seen to be a waste when some income could be gained through controlled hunting. It was on this basis that sport hunting was introduced here, and incomes ploughed back into helping the surrounding communities.
ZAWA being committed towards protecting and conserving wildlife, offered significant input and guidance needed for the Ministry Of Tourism and Arts’ decision to lift the hunting ban.
People must also be aware and understand that, the decision to lift the ban is not merely a consumptive matter, but a conservation one as well, as money, which is raised in these animal overpopulated areas is usually ploughed back into conservation. The decision is also a human-wildlife conflict mitigation measure as these places are known for this problem.
Conservation is much more than just allowing uncontrolled animal over-populations. It is about ensuring the balance between humans and wildlife, for harmonious existence of both. ZAWA has been a target of all sorts of misunderstandings because this role is not clearly understood.
In fact in other cases, especially in communities prone to human wildlife conflicts, ZAWA has been accused of caring more about the welfare of animals than that of human beings. What some people have said is that ZAWA gives too much attention and protection to wildlife and not humans. But we should all understand that as much as wildlife should serve man, it must be sustainably utilised because the importance of conserving and protecting wildlife, borders on the enhancement of our society and human life itself. Hence, environmental conservation should be a collective human obligation because without wildlife, there would be no human life to speak of, as we all know that wildlife enhances society and human life.
Wildlife could generally survive without humans. But we can’t say the same for human life in the absence of wildlife and the natural environment, as it is an important basis for our nutrition and economic survival.
Hence, ZAWA’s role is unique and complex as it has to juggle and find this balance between the growth of wildlife vis-à-vis human populations. It is for this reason that ZAWA takes great care in the allocation of quotas or what is to be hunted and where this should be undertaken.
But we understand that without proper sensitization and awareness of the key and direct relationships we humans must share with the wild, ZAWA’s role will always be misunderstood and misinterpreted and the battle to create harmony between Wildlife and humans will be lost, and the future of this unique estate shall be at stake and at risk. Everything in life is interdependent and maintaining that delicate balance is the answer.
Apart from its economic benefits, Wildlife contributes to the ecological balance of nature, the food chain and nature cycles. It is also a source of ecological, biodiversity, economic, recreation, and scientific, social and cultural values untold. And ZAWA hopes that individuals, the media and the general public could help us communicate this clearly.
Please ensure that you have read the entire article before posting comments. Any off-topic and offensive language will be moderated.
Article by: The Zambia Wildlife Authority
Its all a game for people in politics and such a waste having Jean Kapata as Zambia’s Tourism and Arts Minister. She has now lifted the ban on big cats saying they have lost revenue in tourism and need to reinforce it. There are many ways of generating tourism revenue in Zambia but because they hire friends and family in these positions is the real challenge. How can we have someone who is not skilled in tourism making such decisions? She has no diploma or degree in this field and making rather drastic decisions based on the old way of thinking because she has no vision or leadership skills. We need to use or find sustainable practices in promoting tourism. How can it work when people managing it have no idea on when or where to start? Trophy Hunting is a short term economic goal of making a quick buck and once they kill off everything then what? The problem with these people is the corruption involved and they will turn a blind eye because they are getting a pay cut from these hunters. Its not because they need money for the economy but for their pockets and pockets of friends. They will not stop until everything is destroyed just like they are destroying the country. and the future of its tourism which is now in more danger than it was before. Once they have someone with a vision for Zambia’s tourism sector with leadership skills and experience, who is talented and educated in this position and who can make informed decision that will benefit the Zambian economy, its people and wildlife is when Zambia will start moving forward as a nation. A big shame on Jean Kapata’s part. President Lungu really needs to start looking and evaluating people hired in these positions. It is hurting the economy and very costly to the nation. Its readily apparent why tourism is not working. Hire someone who is qualified in manage it!
Trophy hunting at a time when most species of African wildlife are at risk is not conservation. The motivation of rich hunters is clear as they post photos of themselves draped over the dead bodies of endangered species. So no we will not facilitate the utilization of wildlife to fill your coffers. It is blood money. The day will come when Zambia will have nothing left to attract tourists or hunters. Your landscapes will be empty and your ecosystems destroyed. Then what? Many of us even now make a point not to visit any country that permits trophy hunting. And we work to ensure others do the same.
There was an article by Tourism and Arts Minister, Jean Kapata, saying government has released the June, 2014 salaries for workers under the Zambia Wild Life Authority – ZAWA. Mrs. Kapata has also assured ZAWA officers that from now on, salaries will be paid on time. The Minister who could not disclose the amount involved, said all the officers are now receiving their June salaries. And Ms. Kapata has disclosed that the only people who are owed three-month salary arrears are village scouts. She however expressed confidence that the Ministry of Finance will come to the aid of ZAWA and pay the village scouts, as her ministry is working on restructuring ZAWA. Village Scouts were usually paid by community resource boards – using money generated from hunting concessions. Ms. Kapata says since the ban of hunting concessions, the Community Boards have found it difficult to pay the scouts. Its sad they are blaming the ban of trophy hunting as the key reason they can not pay employees. So many ideas on how to capitalize on tourism and hunting is the solution.
http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=4725
Lifting this ban would be one of the biggest inhumane mistakes with dire consequences to the country, lions, the Zambian people and would support the extinction of lions!! This would be morally reprehensible and unacceptable! Short term economic gains with pressure from bloody trophy hunters underpins this unscrupulous unintelligent action by this department and they know it. Hunting could never ever be conservation, this is the most illogical unintelligent argument. An important phenomenon called \”nature\” is the sole reason why robust pure clean uncorrupted wild life exists today, so human i brutal intervention is illogical on every level. WE already have a fragile environment which will take its toll on the lives existing in it so what you think would be the effects of their population when you hunt and stress these lions and brutally destroying their family lives? What do you expect would happen to their physiological emotional state when the gun fire suffering and stench of blood and dead meat fill the air in their fragile environment! Just take a look at humans and see the devastating consequences to lives when families are torn apart! Suicide in the animal world is the next act of human abhorrence to follow!! This is the worst act of betrayal by the unconscionable government of Zambia. This country used to be a safe wilderness for wild life but the evil of money have ruined this once flourishing thriving habitation for the most magnificent beings on this planet. Africa without lions will not be Africa, it will be the lifeless desert similar to areas here now!
The fact that the hunting ban was lifted after such a short time, displays a lack of willingness to allow and see any real affect. It really does stink to jigh heavens that the hunting fraternity has barraged ZAWA into a submission? In fact many of the words and frases used in the statement above could quite easily have been lifted from a typical over-enthusiastic hunter.
Whereas they are different countries with diferent strangths and weaknesses, Zambia must follow Botswana’s example of how to protect their big 5.
These are the quotes and articles in the worldwide press which seem to contradict this latest statement from ZAWA & J Kapatahttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2735902/Zambia-lifts-ban-safari-hunting-attract-tourists-wildlife-authority-pushes-allow-lions-leopards-killed-cash.htmlhttp://mgafrica.com/article/2014-08-28-zambia-lifts-ban-on-safari-huntinghttp://news.mongabay.com/2014/0909-hance-zambia-hunting.htmlAt least you are not allowing the big cats to be hunted (yet) The reality is, Zambia, it is up to you – do you want to be seen as places which are visited and bragged about by the likes of A. Neilson, convicted poacher? Or by families who will visit, take photographs and respect your country?Copied from A Neilson\\’s open page – apparently he killed two Leopards in Kafu Blocks, whilst his friend shot one. They are also under the impression ( One can only guess how, that \\’it is looking good for 2015\\’. Aaron NeilsonFollow · May 22 One reason why I miss hunting Zambia\\’s Kafue Blocks – BIG LEOPARDS!!!! What a damn shame.
Most everything Mr Clark says is true with the exception of “…..to hunt ANY of Africa’s spectacular wildlife, it is a necessity….” it simply is not. Granted it is necessary to manage the wildlife populations… but to hunt for pleasure is not necessary…. to augment game management with pleasure/ liesure/ ego hunting is not a necessity. Because conservation has received financial support in exchange for the permission to kill in the past does not mean this is a good process nor the only process…it definitely is not an acceptable a long term solution. It is the mind set that says ‘hunting and hunters money is the only money available for conservation’ that needs to change. The hunters are not the savours of african wildlife…they are currently those with a vested interest and the finance to make things happen…but this is simply blood money, fast cheap bucks for short term actions.
Yes, ZAWA are involved in a noble activity and doing the best they can…. but surely they could be doing more…where are they campaigning for international funding…where are they in the international media outlining their needs and desires… we have seen many hundreds of people on the social media sites decry the notion of hunting…would these same people not be an ideal audience for ZAWA to appeal to for help ? where is the ZAWA information site outlining the work done and the costs involved…inform and educate the world…never forget …we are on your side… as long as your are on the side of the wildlife and the communities on the ground. Invite the conservation groups to Zambia as you invite the hunters…give them the same respect…access their dollars. Why do ZAWA not consider reversing to scenario and appeal to the hunting community to see if they will fund without hunting… on the basis that if conservation is successful then the excess wildlife could be made available for sale to game ranches in the future… in a controlled manner. That may sound bad but it puts conservation first and that is what we want and is as it should be…
No one wants to boycott Zambia… on the contrary – most advocates for the ban on safari hunting in Zambia love the country, its wild life and its peoples… but we also do not want to be associated with anbody that condones pleasure safari hunting…. and if the Minister responsible for Tourism states that the ban on hunting is being lifted then we have to follow our conscience and speak out… and we will.
This entire episode appears to stem from a lack of information and a lack in clarity… but it is clear that even the threat of lifting the ban is enough to cause anger and potential harm to the Zambian Tourist industry.
It is high time the Ministry of Tourism and Arts diversifies the income of the Zambian Wildlife Authority away from trophy hunting and hunting concession leases. The majority people get nothing anyway – the money goes into pockets and they just get less wildlife or can the author point out how the majority have an over whelming benefit please ? . BE SPECIFIC. Insisting that trophy hunting will conserve Zambia’s wildlife is against common sense as its clearly DECLINING.
Anything criticizing the decision or findings and questions about trophy hunting have been disabled. People need to learn how to turn mistakes into learning opportunities. Sadly, it is not a common practice to treat mistakes as opportunities for learning. Shame!
It is really unfortunate that those people who plundered our wealth (copper) built their mansions, who sit and sip their tea and throw away food, should come and start chastising us on how to manage our resources!
When Masebo after being hoodwinked by the so called ‘animal lovers’ promised her that if she stopped the hunting they would bank roll her in running the areas – where did they all go? Because we know that our people in the hunting blocks that were affected became destitute. They could not take their children to school, the animals that had been meant to be protected started to be poached by the communities because they had no income. Where were the ‘dollars’ from you people who had promised to assist the communities, you who are so passionate about the unbridled conservation? I do not think those promised monies came in because ZAWA have struggled to carry out their conservation duties, the pledges that the communities relied on are not there – hence the whole scenario became chaotic! – NO HELP! Or were we supposed to start begging for assistance – as somebody earlier said? If you are so concerned why not pledge without being begged?
Oh by the way I am sure Masebo was ‘booted out’ for issues that she herself would know – but I am pretty sure that it was not for her trying to bring to the fore “……. bribes game rangers and other management officials in its business dealings……” as you have put it – because this issue of her alleging ‘bribes’ in ZAWA came before the Courts of Law and it was found to be false. I can assure you that the Government would not ‘boot’ out somebody who has ‘evidence’ that corruption is being conducted. Zambians would have seen through that – we are not stupid.! But if people for their own ‘hidden agenda’ wish to manipulate the people of Zambia – this we will not allow!
What should be known and understood is that ZAWA and the Zambian Government are trying their level best to conserve our wildlife through controlled hunting. If your worry is ‘conservation’ it is being done. But if it is an issue of killing ‘magnificent beings on this planet” as Madam Anne Grice has put it, I am afraid you have missed the whole point because it seems you respect the lives of animals over human beings! Are animals more magnificent than humans on this planet? I have never heard you cry out when our people are killed by elephants or lions! They are being killed each and every day because ZAWA has banned the killing of these animals – they roam about in the villages, in the communities’ fields etc, they have trumped children going to school, they have marred and killed women going to draw water or going to their fields – what do you say? NOTHING – the silence is deafening!!
Is it because those who are being killed are Africans? Is it because it is in Africa where those animals mostly reside – so let the people who come into contact with them get killed – but please preserve the killer animals!!?
May I ask please, if these areas where the animals are, are left without curing them and they became so many that they overrun the villages – what should happen? We are live to the fact that – yes there can be non-consumptive tourism – but again we still beg the question – when these animals became too many what should happen since they should not be cured – oh – killed? Or are our questions being ‘unintelligent’ as one of you said? Please educate us you who are very ‘intelligent’.!
There is nobody in Zambia, not even the villagers who would like to see a depletion of their animals – because we would like to see our children’s children come to know what a lion looks like, what an elephant looks like etc – therefore conservation is key to our well-being – it is all about controlled conservation which in the process gives something back to the communities for their sustenance, its about the animal world leaving side by side with humans. I would therefore appeal to you people to be objective and see both sides.
Hi,
Thank you for the clarification. We would have loved to hear from the minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata since she is the one who lifted the ban and her explaining her decision. Furthermore, can ZAWA explain why a certain Trophy Hunting business claims to be involved in hunting endangered species in Zambia and that it bribes game rangers and other management officials in its business dealings. Is this what Sylvia Masebo was trying to expose before she got the boot? Please verify why a company boasts about hunting lions as a sport in Zambia. They claim it’s $68,000 to kill a healthy male lion. They have a pricelist and going rate on their website.
http://www.safaribwana.com
Kind regards,
Tourist