HUNTING COMPANY LOSES SELOUS CONCESSION
(Posted 13th July 2014)
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism yesterday announced that Green Miles Safaris, holder of a hunting concession in the Selous Game Reserve, was found in violation of several codes and regulations and had their permits withdrawn. Two weeks ago did opposition MP’s show a promotional video clip the company had produced to members of the sessional committee in parliament, prompting an outcry at the time and demands the company be taken to court. Minister Nyalandu at the time stated that the matter would be investigated, a process which was apparently completed earlier in the week. It is understood that key management staff and licensed hunters employed by the company are now wanted in connection with several breeches of concession terms, which – as shown on the video – included running down game with a car, shooting female and young game and allowing under age persons to shoot game. Prosecution in court is now expected to go underway with at least 11 charges being brought against the company and its directors and license holders. The company according to the information received, held three concessions including one around Lake Natron.
‘Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Some of the usual suspects have already started their own white washing, going as far as saying if those allegations were true the company should be banned from hunting in Tanzania. But the truth is, there are many violations committed by hunting companies. Now that America has banned letting trophies from Tanzania into the US; that should be a signal to ban hunting completely. Give them notice of perhaps a year or until the end of their concession and then stop it. Nyalandu this week in Arusha said the government was reviewing taxes and fees for tourist companies to bring down our cost. If this results in more tourists, if we can ride on a hunting ban and on real measures against poaching, then we can attract easily more high spending tourists to come to Tanzania. That extra revenue makes up for the loss in hunting fees and any staff who might lose their jobs when hunting is banned can retrain and find employment in the tourism sector, in camps or with safari companies’ contributed the source sending the information while another let fly: ‘After seeing this video in parliament it takes the Minister two weeks to act. Meanwhile have the culprits fled away of course. The Minister had no choice over such obvious evidence but not all is well in that ministry. There are officials who were suspended from the wildlife department and now they are back in the new Wildlife Authority which started in July. How can he justify that, what measures has he taken to bring the 300 to justice whom Kagesheki named on his list. This are all small smokescreens. The UK offers financial and material aid to fight poachers but going by experience, that money will be eaten and the equipment used for something else. Things are not good in Tanzania’.
The country has since 2007 lost tens of thousands of elephant to poaching gangs which roamed the country at will to mow down the big herds of elephant, which then at the Selous alone numbered nearly 70.000 animals, reduced by the end 0f 2013 to just 13.000 according to a census carried out. In the Ruaha / Mikumi park area elephant numbers were also found to have reduced by over half during the same time, with few prosecutions taking place and those concluded largely for foot soldiers who are expendable while the big fish, the middlemen and financiers of the blood ivory trade, continue to enjoy the ill-gotten riches. This left Tanzania with their conservation credentials in tatters. Not much has changed however as a result of international pressure nor following full mouthed statements made by top Tanzanian officials before, during and after the London Conference on wildlife crimes a few months ago. The list of names of high ranking individuals allegedly involved in the blood ivory trade, produced by the immediate former Minister, Amb. Kagesheki, has clearly not been acted upon and has all but disappeared, leaving many open questions just how high up into government this corruption has spread. Added another regular source in closing ‘It seems some of our top officials will not rest until the last of the big game are gone. Then they have a free pass to allow for mining and logging. Don’t think for a moment that the Uranium mining project in the Selous will be the end of it. It will be the start because there are a lot more mineral deposits underground and that is where the big money will be made. Using influence to peddle concessions for hard cash and wildlife and conservation are the enemies of that. It all sounds just like a very sinister big bad plan someone has hatched’.
For now it is Green Mile Safaris in the firing line though, so watch this space to learn in coming weeks and months how that case will go in court.
One Response
At last !