HUNTING SAGA

IT is surprising that Government has kept conspicuously quiet over the raging debate involving the cancellation of the Hunting Concession Agreements (HCAs).

What is more surprising is that the cancellation did not have a seal of approval from the Attorney-General, Mr Kabesha Mulilo.

But for reasons best known to himself, Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga cancelled all the 19 HCAs against the legal advice by the Attorney General.

That Mr Kabesha even wrote to President Hakainde Hichilema advising that in the absence of evidence of infringement of the law, it was legally unsustainable to terminate the HCAs raises more questions.

For even without any legal proof, Mr Muhanga claimed that the initial process was not transparent hence his decision to cancel all the contracts. He has since directed that the tender be re-advertised.

From the reaction of the key stakeholders throughout the country, what comes out is that Mr Muhanga did not only fail to seek legal advice from the Attorney General, he also failed to consult the key people on the ground – traditional leaders - who are now up in arms.

Their complaint, which is genuine is that the arbitrary cancellation of the HCAs has adversely affected their subjects through a loss of their economic livelihood.

Chief Mulendema of the Illa people in Mumbwa said he is deeply concerned that Government has cancelled all the 19 HCAs because the decision has effectively halted the generation of revenue for communities in the Game Management Areas.

This is because the communities derive income from the presence of safari hunters when the hunting season opens.

Chief Mulendema pointed out that communities where Safari hunting was taking place needed money to sustain many of their activities including paying of scouts who were cardinal in the protection and conservation of wildlife.

His colleague, Chief Nabwalya of the Bisa people in Mpika has equally complained over the unilateral cancellation of the HCAs by the Ministry of Tourism saying it was hurting his subjects

He too has complained that it was wrong as it was effected without consultations. He pointed out that it would cause a lot of suffering among rural communities.

It is not by chance that two chiefs from different parts of the country have voiced concern

Chief Nabwalya has appealed to higher authorities to impress upon Mr Muhanga to reconsider his decision and allow concessionaires to commence their safari hunting activities.

The traditional leader stated that the cancellation of the safari hunting tender had adversely impacted the revenue generation in communities which had resulted into a lot of suffering.

Government must not remain mute especially that Chief Nabwalya for example even made an effort to travel to Lusaka to try and meet Mr Muhanga and the director at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to urge them to rescind the cancellation of the Safari Hunting tender.

It must not remain aloof when one of its senior

officers disregards legal advice and tries to act as a “lone ranger” and in the process disadvantage hundreds of people.

It is not sending the right signal that the people’s

interest come first.