By Margaret Mvura

SAFARI Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) held its 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Harare amid calls by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Engineer Simon Musanhu for cooperation between Government and safari operators for the improvement of tourism in the country.
SOAZ is a private sector association which assists its safari operator members in running their operations and keeps them up to date with information on the licensing and running of tourism facilities in Zimbabwe.
Members’ activities include photographic safaris and providing accommodation in the wilderness, and hunting operations in designated areas.
Speaking at the AGM, Engineer Musanhu said cooperation between stakeholders will yield good results.
“We are advised that the Private Sector spent in the region of US$2 million during the past season in their efforts to combat poaching in their own concessions,” said Engineer Musanhu.
“Around 400 anti-poaching personnel were deployed.
“We commend you on this serious effort from the Private Sector to keep our wildlife safe.
“On our part we have enlisted the assistance of a number of corporations to help National Parks with equipment and vehicles in their battle against poachers and we have formed The Wildlife Ecological Trust.”
Engineer Musanhu said a solid partnership with the Ministry of Tourism is also proving to be fruitful.
“There remains the outstanding matter of the dispute involving the wildlife-based land reform and together with our colleague, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality and we hope this will be resolved in the coming year,” he said.
“It is imperative that all parties in the dispute co-operate in the best interests of protecting our wildlife resources which is an integral part of our national heritage.
“The CAMPFIRE programme continues to record high levels of success in achieving the broad objectives of Community Based Tourism in line with government policy.
“CAMPFIRE continues to be a living testimony of the commitment by Government to ensure Communities which live alongside wildlife enjoy maximum value.
“The Zimbabwe model has been so successful that it has been adopted by several surrounding countries as part of their own community involvement programmes.
“It is encouraging to hear from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality that the duty free facility for importing vehicles and equipment for tourism, is likely to be re-introduced, along with the Tourism Revolving Fund.
“Players are encouraged to make use of this facility and upgrade their operations and equipment in order to remain competitive.”
SOAZ chairman, Emmanuel Fundira encouraged government to address challenges bedevilling parks.
“It is our fervent hope that a solution is found moving forward and if it is an issue of budgetary constraints at parks, Government should consider taking over the costs of enforcement, which constitutes the bulk of recurrent expenditure from parks as what has happened in neighbouring Zambia,” said Fundira.
“Alternatively, the private sector should be allowed to come in and assist with ideas the best way possible including funding the cost of protein and putting a stop to hunting in national parks.”
History shows that Rhodesia’s wildlife policy of 1975, through the National Parks and Wildlife Act deprived the indigenous people of any wildlife and redistributed it between the State and the white farmers.
That Act also allocated hunting quotas to white farmers painting them conservationists and professional hunters while branding black people as poachers.
The Save Valley Conservancy issue, for instance, caused a stir when an official from the then Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management disclosed that the wrangle had now come into the open because Save Valley Conservancy since 1991 was claiming to be posting losses and therefore not paying out or sharing profits or hunting dividends, with the black people.
He said it had been for that reason that black indigenous people wanted to take part in the industry and post profits.
The AGM was also an opportunity for SOAZ to give awards to best performing safari operators.
Awards included the Best Run Hunting Camp which was won by Bonani Mathuthuka, Most Consistent in Excellency won by Ivory Lodge, Greatest Contribution to Community, won by Buleli Safaris, Best Photographic Camp won by Nehimba Lodge which also won the Best Publicity Brochure.
Meanwhile, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority received donations raised during an inaugural fundraising dinner put together by the Wildlife Ecological Trust (WET) in Harare.
The board of trustees of WET was appointed after the Hwange National Park disaster which saw over 100 elephants and other species being poisoned.
Speaking during the dinner, Mbada Diamonds chief administration officer who is also one of the trustees, Major Mahlangu, said the team and his organisation are conscious of environment conservation issues.
“We are conscious of the environment, and environmental conservation is key to us as we feel there should be no disturbance in biodiversity which is why the team has put together systems that we feel will help maintain the environment,” he said.
“We know poaching is internationally coordinated which is why we must alleviate the challenge in our parks by making sure we resource the people.
“We are appealing to those who can pay salaries for the rangers to do so.
‘One vehicle at the moment is patrolling 100 kilometres and we would want to reduce this distance to 10 kilometres.
“We will soon be installing CCTV technology so that we protect what is ours.”
Mbada Diamonds handed over five Land Rover vehicles of the 20 pledged and promised to hand over the remaining 10.
The vehicles which will have satellite tracking system courtesy of Econet Wireless are expected to help in anti-poaching patrols.
Other donations included borehole rehabilitation valued at US$20 000 and 150 tents from MIMOSA mining company, monetary donations ranging from US$200 to over US$2 000 from Hide Safari Camp, Malilangwe Trust, RM Insurance, Doves, Painted Dogs Conservation Trust and Nyaradzo Life among others.