adminZambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) director-general Edwin Matokwani was fired together with four other senior officials for irregularities in the awarding of the 10-year safari hunting licences while the licences have since been revoked.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo said there were several irregularities in the awarding of the safari hunting concession in 19 hunting blocs in various game management areas, which would not be tolerated.
“Contrary to the tender rules, there was a leakage of information during evaluation process to prospective bidders long before the process was completed.
This in itself rendered the whole evaluation process not credible in the eyes of stakeholders and the general public,” she was quoted as saying by the paper.
According to her, some companies which submitted bids in the tender process and were subsequently approved should have been considered as associate firms with cross shareholding and had directors related to one another, contrary to tender rules.
Out of the 19 advertised licences, 13 were awarded to Zambians with foreign origins while only one was given to an indigenous Zambian, she added.
The irregularities in the awarding of the safari hunting licences caused some stakeholders to petition Zambian President Michael Sata so that he could intervene and reverse the move.
Following the petition, the wildlife body readvertised the tender for the granting of 19 safari hunting licences in various game management areas. — AFP
Online Reporter