AFP | 29 March, 2017 12:02

A Hong Kong court has convicted two people of illegally possessing ivory chopsticks after radiocarbon dating proved the items were produced after 1990 and therefore unlawful, the government said Wednesday.

Domestic trade in ivory imported legally into Hong Kong before that year is not against the law if the seller has a government licence. But the pair were convicted and fined after the dating process established the ivory was obtained after 1990. Government officials had bought the chopsticks from a crafts shop during an operation last August in the city's Sheung Wan district, which is dotted with curio and antique vendors.

A court Tuesday imposed fines -- of HK$6,000 (US$770) and HK$8,000 -- on the operator of the store and its proprietor.
"It's the first time the Hong Kong government has ever used radiocarbon analysis to determine the age of ivory -- that's a total game-changer in the market," WildAid wildlife campaigner Alex Hofford told AFP. While environmental groups welcomed the use of forensic evidence, they condemned the light penalty. The maximum punishment is a HK$5 million fine and two years in jail. Yannick Kuehl of wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC said in a statement that penalties in Hong Kong "need to increase to reflect better the gravity of wildlife crime and be an effective deterrent..."

Hong Kong, a key hub for the ivory trade and manufacturing, announced plans last year to phase out sales completely by 2021. But the government of neighbouring mainland China will ban all ivory trade and processing by the end of this year, a move hailed by conservationists. Critics have argued that Hong Kong's five-year timetable to outlaw sales was too slow and would attract illegal business to the city as mainland China moves ahead with its ban. Conservationists estimate that more than 20,000 elephants were killed for their ivory in 2015, with similar tolls in previous years. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned the international ivory trade in 1989.

https://cites.org/eng/news/sg/keynote-address-cites-sg-john-scanlon-world-travel-and-tourism-council-17-global-summit-thailand_27042017

Safari players await US decision on ivory ban

By Kudzai Kuwaza

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a suspension on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies taken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe during the calendar 2014 year which resulted in business slumping by as much as 30%.

“In Zimbabwe, available data, though limited, indicates a significant decline in the elephant population. Anecdotal evidence, such as the widely publicised poisoning last year of 300 elephants in Hwange National Park, suggests that Zimbabwe’s elephants are citing under siege,” the organisation said, citing the reason of the ban. “Given the current situation on the ground in both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the Service is unable to make positive findings required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and the Endangered Species Act to allow import of elephant trophies from these countries.”
Soaz chairman Emmanuel Fundira told businessdigest recently that they are now awaiting the decision of the USFWS after supplying details they had requested.

“We have gone as far as satisfying their requirements for the information they requested,” Fundira said. “We are now awaiting a decision when they meet in the next indaba. We are expecting some form of response from them by the end of June.”
He said they are hopeful of a positive outcome after the change in government this year in the United States this year. Donald Trump was elected President on a Republican party ticket replacing Barack Obama who had been elected on a Democratic party ticket.

“Republicans are more pro-sustainable development which is a positive sign for a favourable outcome,” he said.

He said business has improved as their efforts to create alternative markets in areas such as Eastern Europe are starting to bear fruit.
Fundira said their optimism that this season will be an improvement from last year buoyed by a favourable outcome of the Cites convention meeting held last year.
There had been an intensive lobby at the convention to have the elephant and the lion removed from Appendix 11, which lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled, to Appendix 1.

Workshop on Leopard Research & Data Capture for Leopard NDF

Dear PHASA members and friends,

RE: CHANGES IN PHASA LEADERSHIP AND THE PRESS COVERAGE THEREOF

As you know, our President for 2016/2017, Stan Burger, resigned earlier this week. Our President-elect, Dries van Coller, will now take over the leadership with immediate effect.

In his resignation letter, Stan said that hunting associations worldwide presently face many challenges. PHASA is no exception.

“After due consideration, and in light of the position PHASA currently finds itself in, and with every intention of putting PHASA first, I hereby tender my resignation.

It is my sincere hope that my resignation proves to be a unifying catalyst and that it will heal the divide within the association and allow PHASA to return its focus to the critical issues facing the hunting sector. It has been a privilege to serve the association and my country, and I will remain a loyal member of PHASA.

The time has come for others to carry the torch into the future, and I wish you well.” To announce Stan’s resignation and Dries’ appointment as president, PHASA issued the following press release yesterday afternoon:

“The Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) hereby announces Mr Stan Burger’s resignation as President of the Association.

President-Elect, Mr Dries Van Coller, will take the lead as from today.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Association, but the time has come for others to now carry the torch,” said Mr Burger.

Commenting on the way forward, Mr Van Coller said that PHASA will continue with minimum disruptions as the Association continues to serve the members of the professional hunting fraternity of South Africa.”

Seeing that PHASA is an internationally recognised professional hunting association, and as such are very much in the public eye, we have anticipated various questions from the media. It unfortunately comes with the risk of false press statements being made or misinformation being spread as opportunistic journalists try to create newsworthy and unique angles for their stories or try to get their own personal views, or that of those who pay their salaries, across.

We have prepared for different takes on Stan’s resignation and the new president’s announcement, and where possible, have shared the facts with the media in a responsible manner.

• quoted PHASA’s media relations officer out of context, and
  
• positioned his article, “PHASA president resigns over captive bred lion hunting,” published on News24 on the evening of May 23, as if Stan Burger did not enjoy any support from PHASA’s new president, current executive committee or membership on critical matters that may negatively impact on the future of well-regulated, legal and responsible hunting in South Africa by putting the emphasis on the hunting of captive-bred lions.

With that said, the tone of Mr Bloch’s News24 article referred to above, has opened the door for further media speculation.

A press release to clarify Stan's resignation and the position PHASA currently finds itself in will be distributed to the media. We intend to take up the misrepresentation of relevant facts with the Press Ombudsman.

PHASA wishes Stan only the very best. We honour and respect his reasons for resigning.

We congratulate Dries on his appointment and look forward to working closely with him and the rest of the executive team, as we continue to shape, safeguard and promote the future of regulated, legal and responsible hunting in South Africa.

Barry York has been reinstated as vice-president of PHASA. The executive committee’s contact details will be published in the next PHASA newsletter.

You are encouraged to contact PHASA’s leadership and/or the CEO, should you have any queries or questions in this regard.

Disclaimer:
PHASA do not warrant the legality of any products/services advertised in the newsletter.


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TROPHY hunting revenues rose by 15 percent to US$28,8 million in the first two months of the current hunting period, from US$25 million during the same period last year, due to renewed interest in Zimbabwe game, according to official statistics.
The hunting season, which begins in April and ends in November, has seen the lion and elephant accounting for the bulk of the bounty, figures from the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) show.

The majority of hunters are from the American market, which had avoided Zimbabwe since the controversial slaying of the iconic feline, Cecil the Lion, in July 2015, sparking global outrage from conservationists.
SOAZ president, Emmanuel Fundira, said the industry expects annual trophy hunting earnings to surpass the US$100 million realised last year.

“The 2017 hunting season has commenced on a very high note and recorded positive earnings with an increase of 15 percent as compared to the same period the previous year. Annual revenue earnings are projected to increase by 30 percent to US$130 million by the time the season ends,” Fundira said.

He said lions and elephants were attracting most hunters.
The trophy hunting season peaks during the country’s hottest month of October when hunters take advantage of adverse conditions in wildlife reserves. The period between December and March is reserved for breeding. Fundira attributed the growth of the safari earnings to success achieved during last year’s charged Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in South Africa, where Zimbabwe and other sub-Saharan countries strongly resisted embargos on trophy hunting involving endangered species such as elephants and lions.

“The recorded growth is largely attributed to the successes achieved last year, particularly at CITES, when the joint efforts by government and the private sector staved off an aggressive move by some African range states such as Kenya, which had sponsored proposals to uplift two of our major species, the elephant and lion, from Appendix 11 to Appendix 1,” Fundira said.
“The proposal was defeated hands down and that meant that Zimbabwe and other SADC countries with proven and successful conservation records could continue harvesting the two named species. As a result the market responded positively by re-establishing their traditional markets and bookings at the major hunting shows in Dallas Reno and Las Vegas (in the USA).”
“As an addition, Zimbabwe prides itself in offering a memorable experience to Safari enthusiasts in that hunting is carried out on a fair chase basis and that annual quotas are well controlled to ensure full compliance with CITES regulations,” he added.
According to CITIES regulations, the African elephant is on CITES’ Appendix I, except for those populations in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, which are on Appendix II.

The normal CITES rules for Appendix I-listed species is that commercial, international trade in specimens taken from the wild is prohibited. For Appendix II listed species, the rules allow commercial, international trade, subject to first obtaining the necessary permits. The size of the African elephant populations of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa implies that they can still be hunted. The same applies to lions. SOAZ is currently vigorously marketing trophies around the world, with the US market, which is the biggest, being cautious in buying hunting trophies from the country after the killing of Cecil in July 2015. The US government also expressed concern at the time that local communities were not benefitting from trophy hunting proceeds. Currently, local communities are getting proceeds between US$1 million and US$1,5 million a year or US$2 million in a good year. Lion hunting is the biggest contributor to trophy hunting in the country. A 10-day trophy lion safari inclusive of trophy fees and baits, costs as much as US$50 000, but the amount can even rise to US$60 000 for big males. A similar elephant trophy costs US$20 000 per animal, although large bulls can top US$25 000, according to SOAZ figures. Other members of the big five cost US$9 000 and US$10 000 for the buffalo and leopard, respectively.

Bow hunting: Zimbabwe’s great wildlife dilemma

By Andrew Kunambura,
Political Reporter

*Government urged to review blanket ban on bow hunting

* Potential revenue estimated at $5 million per year

A WORSENING foreign currency crisis has armed safari
operators with the ammunition they desperately needed to build a case for reintroduction of the bow hunting sport in Zimbabwe.
The sport, borrowing from ancient forms of hunting game, came to an abrupt end following the killing of Cecil the lion in July 2015.
The famous feline was first wounded with an arrow shot by recreational big-game hunter, American dentist Charles Palmer.
The lion was then killed with a rifle, approximately 40 hours later on 1 July 2015, triggering a loud global outcry from animal rights groups.
Government reacted by immediately banning bow hunting.
Hunters then migrated to South Africa, which, however, banned the sport last year, forcing cash-rich American bow sport hunters to seek a return back to the Zimbabwean forests.
And for cash-starved Zimbabwe, the lure of greenbacks is tempting, but conservationists are refusing to give in and a battle is looming.
Zimbabwe is one of only four countries in the world where any form of lion hunting is still permitted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The country also offers opportunities for hunting of big game like elephants and buffalo.
While there is nothing wrong with hunting, it is the undeveloped type of hunting that is raising consternation.
Bow hunting is the practice of hunting game by archery, in which hunters typically shoot several arrows to trees while tracking their quarry.
Once an animal happens to stray within range, hunters then set off the arrows.

Quick kills are rare, and animals suffer prolonged, painful deaths when the hunters only injure and fail to kill them.
Local safari operators cannot, however, wait to cash in on the sport, which they say has potential to bring in at least $5 million revenue every year.
Conservationists contend that more effort should be made to preserve Zimbabwe’s rich wildlife diversity which attracts game viewing tourists from all over the world.
The question being asked is: Should government prioritise the quick gains of bow hunting over long term benefits of game viewing tourism?
Like so many hot button issues, the answer to the question depends on who is asked.
On the one hand, some say nothing could be more natural than hunting, and indeed just about every animal species has been either predator or prey at some point in its evolution.
Ironically, hunting has wiped out many animal species, while at the same time helping to cull some wild animals that have been allowed to freely reproduce beyond the environment’s carrying capacity.
Using this argument, the country’s safari operators may just have a compelling case.
For instance, the American bow hunters currently knocking on the country’s doors are specifically targeting the buffaloes, elephants and lions, which are said to be off CITES red list in the country.
Elephants and buffaloes, for example, still roam the wild in great numbers in Zimbabwe, and have often posed danger to local communities and destroyed crops.
On the other hand, environmental and animal advocates see bow hunting as barbaric, arguing that it is morally wrong to kill animals just for the fun of it.
Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe president, Emmanuel Fundira, is encouraging government to review the blanket ban on bow hunting as a sport, which he says would open “an exciting period for the safari industry at a time when other parts of the economy are in crisis”.
He said there was huge earning potential for the country if it allowed bow hunting to resume.
“It is therefore my fervent hope and belief that the regulators will consider helping us capture this growing market to the best interest of economic development,” Fundira said.
Bow hunting grew in the 1960s in the United States when conservation lobbyists started discouraging gun hunting.
Mainly limited to hunting for food, the practice was popularised as a sport in the 1980s.
Overall, it was a pastime for older men, but there has been growing interest now among the affluent young generation.
But to the conservationists and animal rights activists, frivolous killing cannot be ethical, let alone be termed a sport.
They have declared that the role of hunting has always been to obtain protein for some populations living in areas infested with wild animals.

However, today the thrill of slaying mighty big mammals like the buffalo, elephant and lion that can be skinned and their hides hung on the wall of the basements of living rooms has brought a whole new dimension to the practice of hunting.
Considering how desperate the Zimbabwean government is at the moment in its search for liquidity, there is every reason to believe that conservationists might lose this fight.
But they will not go down without a fight.

California-based organisation, Animals Voice’s Glenn Kirk said bow hunting “causes immense suffering to individual wild animals and is gratuitously cruel because unlike natural predation, hunters kill for pleasure”.

He said despite hunters’ claims that hunting keeps wildlife populations in balance, hunters’ license fees are used to “manipulate a few game species into overpopulation at the expense of a much larger number of non-game species, resulting in the loss of biological diversity, genetic integrity and ecological balance”.

The same sentiments were echoed by another American group known as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is vehemently opposed to the sport.

PETA is the world’s largest animal rights group with over 6,5 million members and supporters.
“Hunting might have been necessary for human survival in prehistoric times, but today most hunters stalk and kill animals merely for the thrill of it, not out of necessity. This unnecessary, violent form of ‘entertainment’ rips animal families apart and leaves countless animals orphaned or badly injured when hunters miss their targets,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said.
Local animal rights organisation, the Veterinarians for Animal Welfare of Zimbabwe (VAWZ), said it was opposed to bow hunting because of the pain it inflicts on animals.

“Hunting is often called a sport as a way to pass off a cruel, needless killing spree as a socially acceptable, wholesome activity. However, sports involve competition between two consenting parties and the mediation of a referee. And no sport ends with the deliberate death of one unwilling participant,” said VAWZ animal welfare officer, Mel Hood.

While the country’s safari operators argue that controlled hunting was necessary to keep herds and pride populations within healthy sizes, conservationists argue that nature had its own way of delicately balancing ecosystems thereby naturally ensuring the survival of most species.

While natural predators help maintain this balance by killing only the sickest and weakest individuals, hunters strive to kill animals they would like to hang over the fireplace. And these usually are the largest, most robust animals, which are, however, critical in keeping the gene pool strong. “If communities decide that buffalo herds must be managed, it is wrong to reduce the taking of animal life to a recreational activity for bow hunting enthusiasts. Instead, a truly humane solution must be found, whether that solution is to hire professional sharpshooters to observe the herd, taking the old and infirm, or to implement an immune-contraception program for the herd,” says Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals general manager, Mark Beru.

As a signatory to the International Convention on Biodiversity — a multilateral treaty signed at the United Nations Rio Earth summit of 1992 — Zimbabwe, which has a commitment to the sustainable use of its natural resources, finds itself in a tight corner over bow hunting. [email protected]

Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo - New dates

NEW DATES FOR SANGANAI/HLANGANANI- WORLD TOURISM EXPO: 27 SEPTEMBER – 01 OCTOBER 2017

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) would like to advise you that this year’s edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani- World Tourism Expo will be held from 27 September to 01 October 2017.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority would like to apologise for the inconveniences caused by the change of dates of the above mentioned annual tourism show from June to September. The ZTA hereby gives you its assurance and commitment that this year’s edition will be a Sanganai/Hlanganani of note as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this leading international tourism show in Africa.

It is our sincere hope that you will confirm your participation by 31 May 2017. Should you require any further clarity, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Director- National Convention Bureau, Mrs Tesa Chikaponya on email: [email protected] or telephone +263 772 417 723.

Ol-konôî, the Maa or Maasai word for hyena, means “to eat greedily” or “the gluttonous one”. It shows a not so subtle disdain many communities have for spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). It’s true that hyenas scramble and “laugh” during intense feeding events. But then so do many human social groups.

For instance, my father was one of 11 kids. Anyone late for dinner ran the risk of not getting enough food to eat. The same principle applies to spotted hyenas, although they use a different language. Hyena social groups, or clans, are highly organised and the complexity of social interactions rivals that of most primate societies. Their communication repertoire – such as their laugh – includes many types of vocalisations that help to maintain social order without the need for actual fights.

But there’s another attribute that renders these species remarkable: they rarely die from infectious disease. Periodic outbreaks of rabies and canine distemper viruses have killed vast numbers of lions, wild dogs, and other carnivores. But not hyenas. This is well documented in a 25-year long project led by Professor Kay Holekamp which involved intense monitoring of spotted hyenas in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Questions about how and why spotted hyenas are able to survive exposure to pathogens that kill other species drove my research on their immune system.

Immune system
Immunology is a complex subject, steeped with technical jargon and research tools that are rapidly increasing in complexity. Very few people had previously investigated the spotted hyena immune system, so we started with the basics.

We began by looking at antibodies found in hyena blood serum. We found that they have more in common with cat – (Felis catus) – antibodies than dog – (Canis familiaris) – antibodies. This is to be expected because hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs..

We then looked at the genetic codes for genes that are used by the immune system to recognise pathogens – for example a disease-causing agent. These genes, called toll-like receptors, were also similar to those found in cats.

These two findings suggested that compared to other species, spotted hyena antibodies and toll-like receptors are relatively normal. So are these the magic bullet behind their immune defences?

Probably not.

After completing these two molecular-based studies, we next looked at how ecology and the environment can affect hyena immune defences.

Ecology and the environment
Most immunology research is done using inbred mice that spend their entire life in a relatively clean and stable environment. Studying immunology this way has led to great medical breakthroughs, but it has its limitations. It doesn’t, for example, accurately reflect the way most humans and other animals actually live. People and wild animals live in dynamic environments where things like disease, food availability, social groups and climate are constantly changing.

Our research on spotted hyenas set out to study them in both captive environments as well as more natural settings so that we could understand the importance of the environment in regulating their immune systems.

We found that basic immune defences were different in captive hyenas and wild hyenas. Wild hyenas have higher levels of several types of antibodies than captive hyenas.

Another aspect of the spotted hyena’s ecology we studied was the strict social order of their clans. High-ranking hyenas are nearly always females. Males emigrate from other clans and enter the new clan at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.

We found a link between the ranks of hyenas and their immune profiles. For example, high-ranking hyenas had higher levels of basic immune defences. This was true between females – where a higher rank correlated to higher immunity – and between males and females where the same was true of females with a higher rank.

This could be due to several possible reasons. One is that high-ranking hyenas get more food and thus have more energy available for their immune systems to use to fight infections.

At the other end of the immune spectrum we found that females nursing cubs have lower levels of basic immune defences than pregnant hyenas. This is not surprising given that producing milk for offspring requires more energy than actually producing the offspring in the womb.

Environment and social structure play a role
In general the hyena immune system at the most basic level looks similar to other more well-studied species. But our research shows that the environment as well as social structures play a key role in regulating immune defenses.

Although we don’t have all the answers yet, my research lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of the immune system of the spotted hyena so that we can continue working towards answering the question: why don’t spotted hyenas get sick?

Answering this question more fully could lead to better vaccines, and more efficient use of them. For example, understanding the social structure can be important when deciding which animals to vaccinate when vaccines, personnel, and time to administer vaccines is limited. This will become increasingly important as more and more species are pushed towards extinction.

Finally, the mainstream immunology research community is beginning to take note of how studying animals in their natural environments – wild immunology – can lead to a better understanding of disease and immunity in general. We know that hyenas are exposed to a lot of disease-causing organisms but that they rarely die. So studying wild spotted hyenas that seem to be gluttons for surviving disease is a good place to start.

March 2017

MARCH 2017

Dear Friends of Hwange

Zimbabwe has been blessed with prolific and widespread rains this summer. Dams have filled and the countryside is looking magnificent.

In Hwange National Park, the bush is thick and lush. The camel thorns (Acacia Erioloba) sport a bountiful crop of nutritious pods, prized by wildlife for their protein content. They ripen and drop in the dry, winter months when food is scarce, and are greatly relished by many herbivores, especially elephants. The teak forests (Baikaeia Plurijuga) are a picture, the deep green leaves a beautiful foil for multitudes of pretty pinky-purple blooms on the trees. The grass is very tall, full of fat seedheads waving in the wind and already it is changing from vibrant green to beautiful muted shades of amber and gold, a sign of the changing of the season.

Many natural hollows and dips throughout the park are filled with water. For the first time in decades, we stand ready to start the dry season with pans full and all the solar water pumps in great working order.

A major recent achievement by FOH has been a reliable water supply in Main Camp. While our focus is primarily on animals, it is important too to look after the people on the ground, most of who do a good job under difficult circumstances. The entire staff complex as well as the facilities for visitors now have plentiful water powered by a solar pump. We extend gratitude to The Phatisa Foundation who funded this project.

We have supplied the Main Camp clinic with essential drugs and supplies thanks to funds donated specifically for that purpose. Sister Mhlanga is responsible for the National Parks clinics from Victoria Falls in the north to Tuli in the South – 19 stations in all. She will soon be on her way to visit the rural districts to administer necessary care and treatment. We are much indebted to the donor who has made this possible.

There is still much to be done. There are two solar projects to tackle and complete. Jambile pan needs another borehole with a solar water pump as the one it has at present cannot supply sufficient water for wildlife at the height of the dry season. And we would like to install a solar pump system in the south of the park at Beaver that is an important station for rangers and drinking point for wildlife.

Of major concern this year due to such abundant vegetation are firebreaks. We plan to burn proper, effective firebreaks throughout the park as soon as it is dry enough to do so. We intend to ramp up animal rescue work with particular regard to anti-poaching and snare removal. We would like to help improve the main road from Main Camp to Sinamatella that has long been a source of much concern.

We extend thanks to ZOL who sponsor our Internet links in Main Camp and enable us to reach may people through social media. We do need ongoing support in our endeavours to conserve the wildlife of Hwange. We make sure that every dollar counts.

SOME GREAT WORK HAPPENING IN ZAMBIA
Coffee time ...

https://thelivingstoneweekly.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/tlbw19apr17-compressed.pdf

Inside:

• 50 kph or 40 kph
• Arm Giving
• Dogs at Lusaka Airport
• Were Mukula logs in transit?
• New dogs at North Luangwa
• Collaring young elephants in Kafue
• Barbel in Liuwa
• News from Conservation Lower Zambezi
• Boundary in Lake Tanganyika
• Kazangula Bridge photo
• Elephants collared in Mana Pools
• Bhejane Trust news
• Arrest of poachers in Zim
• Lions around Kariba town
• Water, water everywhere in Botswana
• Update on Dereck and Beverly Joubert
• Expedition into the Okavango
• Water levels still rising in the rivers
• Villagers moved again from flood prone Caprivi
• Timber corruption in Mozambique
• Pakistan’s Billion Tree Tsunami

Some videos
Taita Falcon Lodge. This is a promotional video but it shows how beautiful the gorges are downstream of the Victoria Falls. These are the gorges we will lose if Batoka Dam goes ahead.

https://youtu.be/a_iLrE0gufQ

This is why we should all buy COMACO products in Zambia. COMACO products are sold under the name It’s Wild.

https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/videos/10154313742456479/

Alexander Amuli M'betti Makanga‎ to Central African Wilderness Safaris

Malawi ·

During a boat safari at Mvuu camp an Elephant had a lucky escape from crocodile jaws on 10.04.2017

https://www.facebook.com/alexander.makanga/videos/10154418653681517/

TOP

07 May 2017
Clement Uwiringiyimana

Poachers wiped out Rwanda's rhino population. Now a new set from South Africa is expected to help the economy.

Tourism is a key foreign exchange earner in East Africa. (AFP)

ZPHGA STATEMENT- LIONESS DETE - Click header to download article.

Poaching, illegal logging and fishing are threatening endangered species in some of the world's most iconic natural sites, according to a report.

Conservation charity WWF says almost half of the world's 200 designated natural heritage sites are "plagued" by wildlife criminals. These include the last refuges for critically endangered javan rhinos and wild tigers. The authors say more co-ordination is needed to target the whole crime chain. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Galapagos Islands and at many other locations across the globe, Unesco has designated around 200 natural World Heritage sites as being of outstanding international importance and deserving of the highest levels of protections.

WWF looked at the threats to species that are already protected under the Convention on the International Trades in Endangered Species (Cites). The authors found that these threatened animals and plants are poached or illegally harvested in 45% of natural World Heritage sites. Many of the parks in the study are home to critically endangered creatures - including Ujung National Park in Indonesia, which is the last stand for around 60 javan rhinos.

The Okavango Delta World Heritage site in Botswana is a key location for elephants in the north of the country, which make up almost a third of all remaining African elephants. You have got the world's most cherished species on the one hand, and on the other the world's most cherished sites, they are inextricably linked," said Dr Colman O'Criodain from WWF.

"Of course there's the economic value of these sites, but these are special places, they give you a lump in your throat when you see them and if we really want to cherish these we all have to step up."

Between 1970 and 2012 global wildlife populations declined by almost 60% on average.

According to the report, what's going on here is not just unsustainable practices in fishing and logging, but criminality.

The illegal trade in species is said to be worth around £15bn ($19bn) a year, with the unlicensed timber trade said to be responsible for up to 90% of deforestation in major tropical countries.

Over a two year period, the illegal rosewood trade in Madagascar has cost locals up to $200m in lost income.


Like many other locations, simply designating an important site as part of world heritage, isn't enough by itself to stall the criminals.

"In the case of Madagascar there is a lot of corruption and weakness of government on their side and there is complicity among highly placed people in what is going on but support from importing countries and the wider international communities will help a lot," said Dr O'Criodain.

The report points out that the illegal trade in species at natural heritage sites is having a significant impact on people's livelihoods as the disappearance of rare animals and plants can deter tourists. In Belize, for example, more than half of the entire population are supported by income generated through reef tourism and fisheries.

There is also a more direct and deadly human cost in terms of lives lost, with at least 595 park rangers killed protecting key sites between 2009 and 2016.


Current approaches to stemming illegal trade are just not working, the study concludes.

It suggests that rapidly increased co-operation between Cites and the World Heritage Convention could help turn the tide.

"This report provides a range of options to further enhance co-ordination between Cites and the World Heritage Convention, focused around World Heritage sites," said John Scanlon, Director General of the trade convention.

"It is essential that Cites is fully implemented and that these irreplaceable sites are fully protected. In doing so, we will benefit our heritage and our wildlife, provide security to people and places, and support national economies and the rural communities that depend on these sites for their livelihoods."

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Trophy hunting of large carnivores in southern Africa is a hotly debated topic. This was evident after Cecil the lion was shot and killed in Zimbabwe last year.

One argument in support of trophy hunting is that, if done sustainably, it can benefit conservation by providing much needed funding.

But how do we know which populations of animals can sustain trophy hunting? In South Africa there has been a temporary moratorium on trophy hunting of leopards since 2016.

This is because there is “uncertainty about the numbers”, according to John Donaldson, director of research at the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

There is every reason to argue that leopards should be managed very carefully. They are of increasing conservation concern, and have recently been uplisted to vulnerable on both the global and South African national Red List assessments.

Working in South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains, we set out to fill in some of the gaps in our understanding of this vulnerable species.

In 2008 the mountains had one of the highest recorded population densities (the number of animals per 100 km²) of leopards in Africa outside of protected areas. But our new study shows that since then leopard density has declined by two thirds. Unless things change they will disappear from the area by 2020. The biggest threat to these animals appears to be illegal human activity such as shooting without permits, snaring and poisoning.

Based on our findings we believe that trophy hunting isn’t responsible for the precipitous decline in numbers. Nevertheless, it’s important that the moratorium is extended while researchers such as our collaborators at Panthera assess whether these results are representative on a broader scale. We also propose stepping up efforts to mitigate the impacts of illegal human activities to protect the remaining leopards.

Searching for solutions

Our findings demonstrate that although trophy hunting isn’t the cause of the leopard’s problems, it’s a luxury in this area that it cannot afford. We recommend that if the moratorium on leopard hunting in South Africa is lifted, hunting should not be permitted in zones where leopards are in rapid decline, as this would not be sustainable.

Sound management of trophy hunting is incredibly important, but our study shows that conservationists also need to increase their efforts to reduce the effects of illegal human activities on wildlife. This could have a bigger impact on enhancing the conservation status of large carnivores. We recommend helping to educate and engage with communities to reduce levels of human-wildlife conflict.

There are an array of non-lethal techniques available to manage predation, such as using livestock-guarding dogs, building robust enclosures, and herding livestock, that can be more effective at reducing predation than killing predators.

We hope that more countries follow South Africa’s lead in basing wildlife management policies on the best available scientific evidence. And if government authorities and non-profit organisations can provide greater support to communities to enable them to adopt predator-friendly practices this could be just what the leopard needs to bounce back.

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RWANDAIR - MAIDEN FLIGHT:

Breaking: Rhino Horn Trade to Return in South Africa

SAA, Ethiopian Airlines expand code-share pact








The marvel of the Victoria Falls along with magnificent landscapes

Second Rogue Lion Shot Dead
By Noah Pito

One of the two stray lions that killed 12 cattle and four donkeys in Hurungwe West over the past five weeks, has been gunned down.

Nairobi National Park is on the southern edge of Kenya’s capital The killer lion was shot dead around 9pm last Friday after Hurungwe Rural District Council (HRDC) engaged a professional hunter to kill the elusive predator that had imposed a “curfew” on villagers in Ward 24.

The lion is one of adult males that strayed into Deve Point 4 area (Ward 24) last month before killing nine cattle and a donkey in the space of two weeks. HRDC organised a joint operation with the National Parks and Wildlife Authority to kill the cats. The team of rangers only managed to kill one lion, while the other escaped.

The runaway lion continued to terrorise the area and killed three cattle and two donkeys by last Friday. The shooting of the cat was accompanied by wild celebrations in Deve Point 4 where villagers said order and normalcy had been restored.

China moves ahead with ivory ban as witnessed by @CITES SG, 67 ivory carving factories & stores closed today for good.

Noah Pito —
For five weeks between February and March this year, villagers of Deve Point 4 in Hurungwe West had to relive the chilling Ian Smith-regime era of curfews after two male lions — believed to have strayed from a national park in Gokwe — seized control of the area. Upon slipping into the area, the villagers say the cats spent two nights of continuous roaring with only elders with knowledge about lions recognising that the kings of the jungle had besieged the area.

Chrispen Mangena (45) of Marecha Village and Honest Mashoko (49) of Gono Village, who assist the Hurungwe Rural District Council in monitoring problem animals in Ward 24, last week narrated how the lions imposed a gruelling five-week curfew on the villagers while feasting on their livestock.

“The signal they gave on their arrival was continuous roaring during the night. Most of the people here had never heard the sound of a lion. It was through elders with knowledge about lions that most villagers came to realise that the sounds were from lions in our midst,” said Mangena.

Regis Bakasa of Tafirenyika Village lost a cow to the cats. His cattle pen was destroyed as the cattle tried to stampede to safety. What was to be recovered the next morning was a small piece of the backbone, some entrails and the head. The cats also devoured the foetus in the womb of the cow.

“We also discovered that most of the cattle targeted by the lions were pregnant ones, maybe because of the little resistance they would give. When one of the lions was shot during a joint operation between Hurungwe Rural District Council and National Parks and Wildlife Authority, we thought peace had prevailed but the death of the lion ignited a new era of terror as the remaining lion continued to patrol the villages roaring almost every night. This time the cat seemed more aggressive,” added Mangena.

Mashoko chipped in saying soon after the first lion was shot, villagers in Mudyanadzo, Gono and Tafirenyika did not find sleep as the remaining lion roared all the night at the spot where its partner had been shot down. Most children stopped going to school. The area had turned into the lion’s territory, roaring for nights on end and leaving its prints all over. A donkey was killed in Gorekore Village, followed by a cow in Marecha Village. Villagers realised that the only way to protect their animals was by penning them in the tobacco barns, kitchen huts or even bedrooms.

“Since the arrival of the lions, our local schools had to dismiss children as early as 2pm. The freedom of coming home late from beer drinks also stopped. There was no more going to the bus stop for travelling early in the morning. Most people had to have their supper and barricade their doors as early as 6pm,” said Mashoko.According to Mashoko, during the night of March 20 — four days before the second rogue lion was shot down, the cat visited Gono village where it pounced on penned cattle belonging to one Muzvazva. “When Muzvazva heard the sounds from the disturbed cattle, he shouted out to neighbours for help, it was around 11pm. We rushed there and we were about 20 men. It was a few moments after the lion’s usual nocturnal roaring. We burnt thatch grass we pulled from our huts.

“We gave the lion no chance to kill the cow it had targeted. Some wielded axes, some had spears and knobkerries while some threw stones at it. Those with torches in hands flashed at it, as others beat tins to scare it away. We finally chased it before it killed its target, although the cow sustained serious injuries.

“Despite disturbing it that day, it killed an in-calf cow the next day from a kraal in Tafirenyika Village. This is why people resorted to using kitchen huts, barns, or even spare bedrooms while others without such option had to sleep close to their cattle pens with bonfires to scare away the cat,” said Mr Mashoko.

Ward 24 councillor Faro Kuyerukani said the killing of the second lion by a professional hunter brought peace to Deve Point 4 area. Councillor Kuyerukani, who was distributing grain under drought relief programme at Deve Bussiness Centre last Wednesday, said before the second lion was killed it had become difficult for him to assemble villagers as people feared the dangerous cat. “We could not assemble as people were afraid of being attacked. The animals had really imposed a curfew on the villagers. Parents who stay far from the schools had since stopped their children from going to school. Business has returned to normal. People are now working on their tobacco without any fear. Today I just received a report that some animals that survived attacks in pens are now refusing to move back into the pens from the barns, huts etc where they had been temporarily sheltered,” said Councillor Kuyerukani.

After the lions had killed nine cattle and a donkey during their first two weeks in Hurungwe council organised a joint operation with National Parks and Wildlife Authority to kill the cats. The team of rangers managed to kill one of them as the other one escaped. The runaway lion continued to roam the area and later killed five cattle and two donkeys by the time it was shot down by a professional hunter around 9pm on March 24.

This brought the total number of cattle and donkeys lost to the cats to 14 and three respectively since the arrival of the lions in the area. Hurungwe RDC CEO Joram Moyo said, “It is our mandate as council to ensure that problem animals are quickly dealt with each time they stray into communities. It is our responsibility to protect life and property from dangerous animals. People must enjoy their peace and freedom as usual.” To some people, the straying of the lions into Deve Point 4 had opened them an opportunity to see a real lion for the first time. A teacher at Deve Primary School said, “Tourism has come to our doorstep.

I have seen what could have demanded a bit of some fortune and time to visit Mana Pools or Hwange National Park.”

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SA, Malaysia join forces to resolve rhino horn case

This after a shipment of 18 horns was recovered at an airport in Kuala Lumpur on a flight from Mozambique.

Garikai Mazara recently in Mlibizi, Binga
For over a fortnight between March 27 and April 15, hippopotamuses in the Mlibizi River, which feed into the Zambezi River, were dying one after another.

To the villagers from the surrounding areas, the dead hippos were manna from heaven, which meant free meat for them. Though the Zimbabwe National Parks Authority officially puts the number of dead hippos at 15, villagers said the number could have been more than 20.

“When the rangers from Parks were investigating the deaths of the hippos, they used some unorthodox means of getting information and in turn the villagers did not disclose all the information,” said Sandas Mwinde, a fisherman based in the mainly fishing settlement.

“From what we saw, the number of dead hippos could have been more than 20.”

The Parks authority, whilst putting the figure at 15, said investigations conducted with the assistance of the Department of Veterinary Services had concluded that an anthrax outbreak had claimed the lives of the hippos.

Consequently, those who ate the dead hippos contracted the disease, with two people having been said to have died from the disease. Though the Parks authority could not deny nor confirm the health impact of the anthrax outbreak on people, saying the Ministry of Health and Child Care would be better placed to comment, two people are suspected to have died, with several receiving treatment.

Nursing staff at Siansundu Clinic, where most of the affected villagers were treated, confirmed attending to several villagers and even conducting awareness campaigns to educate them on the dangers of eating dead wildlife.

However, they could not give exact figures, as they are not allowed by protocol to release such information. Efforts to get a comment from Dr Mlilo, the district medical officer for Binga were fruitless.

According to a statement released by ZimParks, the authority strengthened awareness campaigns in the entire Binga district after the mishap.

“A team involving the traditional leadership including ZimParks, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Chief Saba, the local councillor, Binga rural district council and the Forestry Commission conducted awareness campaigns educating communities on the dangers of consuming meat from the dead hippos as well as encouraging the people in the affected area to quickly seek for medical assistance once they suspected any symptoms of anthrax.

As much as the cause of the hippos have been put to natural causes, the deaths of the hippos bring to memory similar wildlife catastrophes in the country, notably the gunning down of a herd of elephants in the Gonarezhou National Park in 2010 in a smartly crafted poaching syndicate.

The deaths of the hippos also mirror the almost similar nature of deaths of elephants, this time in the Hwange National Park in 2015, in what was concluded to be another smart poaching technique using cyanide poisoning.

Whilst the official explanation has been an anthrax outbreak, what has left wildlife biologists baffled is why only a certain group of hippos were affected yet there are other groups living in the same area, seemingly unaffected – and thriving.

A wildlife biologist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is confusing that these hippos were exposed to the same conditions and only a certain group was affected.

“There could be a number of factors, from the rate of exposure to the difference of immunity, variables which cannot be ruled. So if one group has better immunity or was less exposed, the chances of contracting the disease would be minimal.”.

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UNWTO Declared the Year 2017 for Tourism as “International

Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development”

Dear Member

Please find attached a programme of events for the launch of the theme on June 2, 2017.
The theme will culminate in the World Tourism day celebrations on 27 September 2017.
Zimbabwe has planned a number of activities to go along with the theme and these are all outlined in the attached information sheets.
As this is our day we must plan accordingly to support the ZTA’s and Ministry’s efforts to put Tourism on the pedestal where it actually resides.
The industry participation at all levels should indicate the seriousness of the sector to play its role in the economy.

Kind regards
Paul N. Matamisa (CEO)

http://www.herald.co.zw/nec-for-tourism-industry-comes-of-age/

../newsletters/volume2/ra.mp3

Govt Orders 10km Radius For Police Roadblocks

Government has directed police to mount only one roadblock within a 10-km radius and to submit monthly schedules on their road traffic operations countrywide.

Stations have also been ordered to harmonise such operations under a one-stop-shop arrangement, with deployment of officers being closely scrutinised.

These innovations are tailored to reduce the huge number of roadblocks which has previously been cited as an encumbrance to tourism and ease of doing business.

Roadblocks frustrate tourists: Kaseke

ZIMBABWE Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke has urged the government to urgently order the police to desist from mounting countless roadblocks on major highways, saying they were tarnishing the country’s image and frustrating foreign visitors.

By Brezhnev Malaba in Victoria Falls

Speaking at a ceremony for Kenya Airways’ inaugural flight to Victoria Falls yesterday, the ZTA chief said the roadblocks were making it difficult to market Zimbabwe as a competitive tourist destination.

Kaseke complained that on a 21-kilometre drive from the resort town to the newly-refurbished Victoria Falls International Airport, he encountered four police roadblocks.

“The Vice-President himself, when I talked to him, he said that he was going to call the Home Affairs minister [Ignatius] Chombo, to really talk about this issue. The police roadblocks are making this destination unattractive. We cannot be attractive when, from Victoria Falls town to the airport, you have four roadblocks,” Kaseke said.

Looking directly at Transport and Infrastructure Development minister Joram Gumbo at the high table, who was the guest of honour, Kaseke remarked: “I know, minister, you were not stopped, but you saw the police, you saw them standing by the road. But I am not a minister; I was stopped four times. What were they [police] asking me? They were asking me about things that are not normally asked by any policeman anywhere else in the world. And I am simply saying that this is a big, big challenge.”

Victoria Falls mayor, Sifiso Mpofu, acknowledged the problem of countless police roadblocks.

“I was hoping you would say that the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is going to relocate its headquarters to Victoria Falls, so that we fight the roadblocks together,” Mpofu said.

Kaseke hailed the Department of Immigration, saying its efforts were contributing to the development of tourism, noting that tourists from more than 50 countries, who previously needed to apply for visas before visiting Zimbabwe, could now be issued with visas at the ports of entry.

“The principal director of immigration, the head of immigration at the moment, is doing wonders. He has worked very closely with tourism and he has moved, during the previous year, more than 50 countries from category C to category B, meaning that these countries are now getting visas at the port of entry. We are working very closely.

Transport minister Gumbo commended Kenya Airways for introducing the direct flight to Victoria Falls, whose international airport was recently upgraded at a cost of $150 million, enabling the resort town to attract world-class airlines.

“These newly introduced flights by Kenya Airways will go a long way in further boosting confidence in our country and easing the travel challenges of tourists and investors from Africa and other parts of the world. This is indeed welcome, given that the government of Zimbabwe has declared Victoria Falls a Special Economic Zone,” Gumbo said.

Kenya Airways group chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze, who arrived on the inaugural flight, said it would enhance connectivity, convenience and African integration.

“In addition to enhancing African integration, this new route will provide a boon for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry as it establishes vital links between the majestic Victoria Falls and the tourism source markets in our global network,” Ngunze added.

Victoria Falls becomes the airline’s 52nd destination and its second city in Zimbabwe after Harare, where it operates 21 flights weekly.
The direct route is serviced by a 90-seater Embraer E-190 jetliner and connects Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Cape Town. On its way back from Cape Town, the plane returns to Victoria Falls before proceeding back to its Nairobi base.

Kenya Airways becomes the third major international carrier within a month, after South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, to introduce direct flights to Zimbabwe’s premier tourist destination. Although SAA has been flying to Victoria Falls for years, it recently launched a 200-seater Airbus 330-200, the largest plane to ever land at the resort.

3 MAY 2017

https://thelivingstoneweekly.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/tlbw3may17-compressed.pdf

COFFEE TIME:

Inside

• Josh Ward dies
• Livingstone Bus Station
• Motorcade Accident
• Tax Amnesty
• Zambia Carnivore Programme in Liuwa
• Bangweulu Wetlands
• New working dogs for South Luangwa
• Crayfish Information required
• Peter de Vere Moss dies
• Leopard at Mukambi
• Beating the Plastic Bag
• Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park
• Vic Falls Wildlife Trust
• More on Batoka Dam
• Collaring Elephants in Central Kalahari
• BDF assisting conservation in Botswana
• Mountain zebra project in Namibia
• Two Rangers killed in Garamba NP, DRC
• Kuki Gallman shot in Kenya
• Tuna fish heading for commercial extinction
• Tree T-Pee
• Olympic Stadium may be using illegal timber

Some videos:

Game Rangers International
The three orphans having a thorough frolic in the mud
https://www.facebook.com/ElephantOrphanageProject/videos/1224459467665122/

African Parks
Back in the 1970’s, more than 50 black rhinos thrived in Akagera National Park, but their numbers declined due to wide-scale poaching. The last rhino was seen in Rwanda in 2007.
Until today.
https://www.facebook.com/AfricanParks/videos/971146329688039/

Red-crested Khoraan
https://www.facebook.com/africa.geographic/videos/10154250994711400/

Drones keep elephants away from people in Tanzania
PBS Newshour
https://youtu.be/p6wRFXikNVY

Africa Moyo
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has slapped hoteliers with a US$3,8 million tax bill from outstanding obligations that accrued from the 15 percent value added tax (VAT) on food sold to foreigners as part of their accommodation package, including withholding tax on commissions charged on foreign tour operators.

The new tax became effective in January 2015, but was backdated to 2010, which hoteliers naturally rejected.Hospitality players claim the added tax is an unwanted cost to business since it makes the local tourism product uncompetitive.The decision to charge VAT retrospectively it being challenged on the basis that it contravenes Section 41 (Liability for Tax in respect of certain past supplies or importations) of the Value Added Tax Act.

Last week, Zimra told The Sunday Mail Business that the taxman is owed in excess of US$3,8 million by the sector. Some companies have, however, since grudgingly thrashed out payment plans to settle the outstanding dues.Zimra board secretary and director for legal and corporate services Ms Florence Jambwa last week said, “Some of the clients have negotiated for payment terms with the Authority in order to liquidate the tax due over an agreed period.

“Zimra is also making follow ups with clients who have not negotiated for payment terms to ensure the full recovery of the VAT due in accordance with the laws of the land.” By the end of last week, the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) and the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT) were trying to identify members that have been caught up in the dragnet. ZCT claimed last year that the Victoria Falls Hotel and Victoria Falls Lodge — both based in the country’s premium resort town — had been given a bill worth US$5,3 million.

The 113-year-old Victoria Falls Hotel, owned by Emerged Railway Properties — a joint venture between the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambia Railways — and jointly managed by African Sun and Meikles Africa, was said to be owing the bulk of the bill at US$4,1 million.

On the other hand, the Victoria Falls Lodge, a privately-owned lodge in the Zambezi National Park, is said to owe Zimra US$1,3 million in unpaid taxes.Listed hospitality group African Sun Limited reported in financials for the year ended December 31, 2016 that the Authority is claiming US$1,6 million on VAT and US$290 000 on withholding taxes, inclusive of interest and penalties.“The Group has contingencies relating to VAT on food and beverage sold to foreign guest before the introduction of VAT on all foreign guests revenues and withholding taxes on foreign tour operators for which, in the opinion of management and its legal counsel, the risk of loss is possible but not probable and therefore no provisions have been recorded.

“The tax matters involve inherent uncertainties including, but not limited to, court rulings, negotiations between affected parties and governmental actions,” said ASL.ZCT has been lobbying the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), which is spearheading the ease of doing business reforms, to “instruct Zimra to stop killing the already bleeding tourism industry before it is too late”.“Since July 2016, the Zimra has unleashed terror on the tourism operators particularly those in Victoria Falls for what they deem as ‘unpaid taxes’ dating back from 2010 to 2015.“Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was given a bill of US$1 260 000 (while) Victoria Falls Hotel was given a bill of US$4 100 000.

“Other industry players are currently under examination and they may also be slapped with huge bills,” said ZCT in a report last year.Currently, ZCT — the representative body for the hospitality sector — is planning to engage Government through the Ministry of Finance, to scrap the VAT and zero-rate tourism products given that the industry is already struggling to make ends meet.“We are engaging them now; they (players in the hospitality sector) have given them 90 days extension for the release of Zimra taxes and the 90 days are due to expire soon. “So we are trying to secure an appointment (with Government),” said Dr Taka Munyanyiwa, a ZCT consultant, last week. The hospitality sector wants the allegedly inconvenient taxes to be scrapped in order to afford them a chance to invest in sprucing up the local tourism product. But Zimra says levies are standard practice “and Zimbabwe is no exception”. “As you appreciate, one of the tenets of taxation is that tax laws should be applied fairly and equitably for the benefit of the country,” explained Ms Jambwa. ZCT argues that Zimra is wrongly interpreting the law by assuming that the difference between a rack rate (recommended or guiding price) and a net rate (amount invoiced by the hotel) is commission. However, according global practices, where there is a different pricing structure for wholesalers, retailers and the final consumer, the difference between the rack rate and net rate is earned by tour operators and has nothing to do with the hotel.In 2010, Zimra raised the same case with tourism players and dragged them to the Fiscal Appeals Court.It then withdrew the case in January last year.

A similar case was also preferred against the hunting sub-sector in 2003 and Zimra lost the case in the High Court.The tourism sector further claim that they sought and got written confirmation from Zimra indicating that food to foreigners as part of accommodation package was zero-rated.But Zimbabwe is not the only country charging VAT on foreign accommodation.

Countries such as Angola charge 10 percent, Malawi (16,5 percent), Mozambique (17 percent), Tanzania (20 percent), South Africa (14 percent) and Zambia (16 percent). South Africa exempts VAT on accommodation and has a tax reimbursable policy for all tourists on departure. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Dr Walter Mzembi has previously said while other countries charge VAT, Zimbabwe needs to waive it since the industry is emerging “from a different background of debilitating EU economic sanctions applied over the last 15 years” that were only repealed in November 2014.

The US’s Zimbabwe Democracy and Recovery Act (Zidera) is however still in force.The 1988 Sales Tax Act recognised tourism as an exporter and zero-rated accommodation services in Zimbabwe to encourage effective foreign direct investment and enhanced arrivals.In 2003, the Ministry of Finance also exempted the sector when VAT was introduced to grow tourist arrivals into the country and benefit the downstream industries.

Zimra rediscovers teeth

Market watchers say the new guard at Zimra has made the Authority very aggressive.The new board, which is led by Mrs Willia Bonyongwe, is currently exploring ways to broaden the country’s tax base, especially in an environment where the informal sector is gradually eclipsing formal businesses.Zimra has since introduced electronic cargo tracking to foil unscrupulous businesspeople who were depriving the country revenue by smuggling goods on the pretext that they were in-transit.

Several fuel tankers have since been intercepted.Last week, the African Development Bank (AfDB) floated a tender for the supply and delivery of cargo tracking seals.

The project will tap from funds provided through AfDB’s Capacity Building for Public Finance and Economic Management (CBPFEM) project. Recently, Zimra also reactivated a 10 percent withholding tax on tobacco farmers without valid tax clearance certificates.Although Government later convinced Zimra to rescind the 10 percent withholding tax following protests by farmers, the law is not new since it is in line with Section 80(2) of the Income Tax Act Chapter 23:06.Similarly, Zimra has also asked small and medium enterprises to take advantage of a moratorium that lapses at the end of June, to register their operations for VAT without being charged penalties and interest for late registration. Almost 6 000 SMEs have since registered with Zimra from January to March 31, 2017. The move will see Zimra pushing up revenue collection. Given the revenue collection initiatives, Zimra announced on Friday that gross revenue collections for the first quarter of 2017 at US$862,47 million were about US$50 million more than the targeted figure.


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ZIMBABWE COUNCIL FOR TOURISM:
Please find attached contact numbers for Chief Clerks to Officers Commanding Provinces;

ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE - CONTACT NUMBERS

National Complaints Desk 04 – 703631

Local communities must benefit from wildlife sanctuaries: Minister

http://www.rbz.co.zw/assets/press-release--direct-access-to-cepecs-by-exporters-.pdf

http://www.herald.co.zw/sustainable-tourism-for-development/

Meetings attended:
- ZimParks Bi Partite Meeting
- ZTOA ExCom
- SOAZ ExCom
- Leopard Research Data Capture