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In a statement, Operators of Professional Hunters Association of Southern Africa chairman Mr Emmanuel Fundira said a lot needed to be done to ensure growth of the industry.
“The deterioration has everything to do with the global economy and strong liquidity challenges and a shortage of discretionary income.
“However, operators continue to attend international shows and our presence continues to increase hoping this will help develop and market the industry,” he said.
Mr Fundira said another challenge was the quality of their trophy sizes which are on a decline due to over-hunting and poaching in certain areas.
“Trophy sizes which are on a decline due to over-hunting in certain areas and poaching in other areas are really a challenge to this industry.
“Trophy sizes need to be adjusted so as to motivate people in the industry and very strict measures should be taken against poachers as it is costing the economy.”
He said the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) were now assuming a conflicting role that of regulator and operator hence destroying professionalism.
“The parks board led by Mr George Pangeti resolved on 20th April 2011 to repossess all hunting concessions which were due to expire and run them accordingly to their own business model which is auctioning and this does not value add but only takes the industry back to the old days where locals were unable to participate,” he said.
He encouraged parks to develop their own business strategy rather than invade viable businesses which they cannot run.
“Parks should be urged to develop their own business strategy and sweat other assets and not invade viable businesses which they can only bring down in a matter of months as evidenced by their record of failing to manage assets such as lodges which are run down and empty.
“How do you nationalise or take over performing assets when you do not have capacity to create your own or even run a tuck shop?”
Mr Fundira said over dependency of parks to the hunting industry was haunting the hunting industry also.
“The quotas allocated need to be slashed by close to 50 percent and parks should move away from being over dependant on hunting for budgetary support,” he said.
Mr Fundira said hunting had a lot of market though the illegal market was affecting the industry.
“The Chinese market is one of the country’s greatest markets at the moment as they believe rhino horn is medicinal hence they are prepared to pay $10 000 per horn,” he said.
He said they were advocating for an allowance to sell ivory as a means of boosting their industry as well.
“Hunting is also a conservation tool because if animals become too many they end up killing each other to avoid sharing territories hence a loss to the country,” he said.
He said what was affecting the hunting industry was lack of professionalism as some people were doing backdoor trading at extremely low prices manipulating the country’s wealth.
“Surely, how can someone sell a buffalo at a mere cow’s price when those people will resale it for four times more?
“Those people will keep coming to trade in Zimbabwe to exploit more of our resources at our expense,” Mr Fundira said.
Online Reporter