As this issue goes to press, the hunting community is awash with rumors and misinformation about the newly enacted ban on the import of sporting firearms into Zimbabwe. Here are the facts as of June 27, 2002. The US State Department has indeed imposed a blanket ban on the import of defense articles into the southern African country of Zimbabwe. The ban applies to all US citizens, and it does apply to hunting rifles. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply not well informed, or is dishonestly misleading you.
The good news is, as this issue goes to press, the US State Department has begun the process needed to reverse the ban as it applies to hunting rifles. Barring unforeseen events in Zimbabwe, or unanticipated resistance at the State Department, the ban could be lifted some time this month. We are following the matter closely and will post new developments on the World Hunting Update Section of our web site, www.huntingreport.com.
Subscribers headed to Zimbabwe immediately may want to try to get what's called a DSP 73, or temporary export license. All of the information needed to obtain this form and to fill it out is posted on our World Hunting Update Section. Given the vigorous effort underway to rescind the ban, however, and given the time involved to get a DSP 73, it is questionable at this point whether one should bother at all.
The best course of action for hunters departing immediately for Zimbabwe may be simply to borrow a firearm from their PH or safari operator. Loaner guns are available in Zimbabwe, incidentally. We have that directly from ZATSO's George Pangeti, who told The Hunting Report last month that all PHs are required to have extra firearms and ammunition on hand.
So, why was the ban enacted? The first reports on this matter were that the State Department simply made a mistake when........(continued)
