The buzz from Africa at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno this year was about the question of concession reallocations in Tanzania. New allocations were supposed to be announced in 2007 and go into effect for 2009. As many of you know, that did not take place, causing much angst among operators and their clients. Safari operators could not effectively plan and market hunts without knowing what areas they would retain. Clients don’t want to book hunts without the certainty of knowing where they will be hunting. Every aspect of the safari hunting business has been somewhat in limbo over the delay in allocations.
The uncertainty is now cleared away. Tanzania Tourism Minister Shamsa Mwangunga says the Tanzanian government will announce new concession allocations in 2010 that will then go into effect in 2013. Basically, Tanzania has extended the 2005–2009 hunting term (or allocation term) for a period of three years to allow operators time to prepare and market their safaris accordingly. Mwangunga announced the extension at the the SCI Convention last month. Mwangunga, you may remember replaced the former tourism minister, Professor Jumanne Mag- hembe, who oversaw those increases in trophy and concession fees we reported on throughout 2007. In a speech Mwangunga delivered at the convention, she cleared up why the business of reallocating concessions was delayed and, thanks to the efforts of TAHOA Chairman Gerard Pasanisi, assured everyone that her ministry understands the hunting industry’s need to conduct marketing efforts effectively. “The Government finds the concerns legitimate, and I want to assure you that appropriate measures have been taken to safeguard the industry,” she said. That’s particularly important, as the Tanzanian government is about to pass new wildlife conservation legislation.
Seems part of the delay in allocations has been the review and subsequent revision of the 1974 Wildlife Conservation Act, which should pass parliament this very month. Apparently the review process has been an open one, allowing stakeholders, including TAHOA and hunting companies in Tanzania, to participate in workshops and public hearings. Among the issues the new wildlife policy will address are management of wetlands, the establishment of private game ranches, community participation in wildlife conservation and the inclusion of international agreements. As soon as the new legislation is passed, I will have a breakdown for you on how it affects the safari hunting community. I should note that the minister says the government of Tanzania is committed to ensuring that sport hunting is sustainably mananged. She also expressed an interest in strengthening partnerships with the hunting industry through continued dialogue. I am posting Minister Mwangunga’s entire speech to The Hunting Report web site where you can read it for yourself. Look for “Tanzania Postpones Concession Reallocations” under Website Uploads.....
