Cecil the lion resurrects

Business Reporter
WHEN people die, there is a general thinking that their souls find a home somewhere in heaven. That thinking has kept many generations believing that there is life after the one on earth. It has entrenched the thinking that this earth is just a passing home and “real” life is after death. So strong is this thinking that many of us believe that those who died long back are somewhere, while some even think that they are watching over those who are still alive.

As a way of remembering some of those long departed relatives and friends, some families have gone further to name their children after the departed.
Many people, especially in African traditional lines today, carry names of their grandparents some of whom they never had an opportunity to see even through photographs.
However, nothing or rather no theories have been written or said about what happens to the soul of many animals which are killed across the world on a daily basis.

Maybe, like human beings, animals also have their beliefs which obviously we are not aware of.
However, it has now emerged that animals too can enjoy the status of human beings depending on the status had when it used to roam the earth. One such animal is Cecil the lion.
The male lion which lived in Hwange National Park was lured away from the sanctuary and shot by an American dentist, Walter Palmer in July.

Of course many local people were not aware of this lion but it turned out that it was a darling in some countries, especially in Western countries.
Most major news stations and Governments came out guns blazing condemning the shooting of the lion.
There were protests at the American doctor’s surgery and he had to go into hiding for some time as anger in those countries hit boiling point.

Even today the anger in some countries over the death of Cecil the lion is still high.
But an innovative airline — fastjet — has decided to resurrect Cecil the Lion.

The company which operates flights between Harare and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania announced that it will name its new aircraft to operate within Zimbabwe, Cecil the lion.
“Our new aircraft to operate within Zimbabwe will be named Cecil the lion, in memory of the late, famous African lion. The aircraft will be the first of our fastjet Zimbabwean fleet,” said the company.

The company could not, however, state when they will start plying local Zimbabwean routes.
It added that naming the aircraft after the “popular” lion was a sign of the company’s belief on conservation of wild animals.

“Naming the airplane in honour of Cecil the lion is a sign of respect, and a reference to our constant support of wildlife conservation in Africa, and our firm belief against harming of wildlife for sport.”

The airline also announced that due to increased demand it will start running daily flights between Harare and Tanzania with effect from tomorrow.
But analysts said it is the innovation of naming one of the aircrafts after Cecil the lion, which shows that tourism and travel like any other sector needed players who are innovative to attract customers in the wake of growing competition.

“Tourism is also about following the new trends. Right now most of our source markets are aware of the controversy surrounding the killing of Cecil the lion,” said a tour operator based in Victoria Falls.

“Most of these tourists would want to be associated with anything to do with the lion and naming some of the tools that support the sector such as airplanes is being innovative. Remember aircraft generally advertise where they originate from and that is why most carry flags of countries they are based in.”

Air Zimbabwe, apart from carrying the Zimbabwe flag, has also named its planes after iconic figures of the country and major places of interest.
Some of the names inscribed on the planes include Mbuya Nehanda and Chimanimani, among others.

It, however, remains to be seen whether fastjet’s new marketing strategy will bring as much business as Cecil the lion which some estimated to bring thousands of dollars from visitors who came to Hwange to see the lion.