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February 16, 2008
We have been trying to get our trophies back since April of 2007. It has been 19 months and counting and everytime we seem to make head way it turns into another 4 to 6 weeks with nothing but excuses.
This is what happened so far. We seen Dudley Rogers in Reno of 2007 and he stated that our trophies would be shipped in April of 2007. Around April or May we received an e-mail stating that the TR2 forms had been lost.
On June 21, 2007, Dudley had us contact Freight consultants for shipping information. We did and were told that our trophies would be shipped within 6 to 8 weeks.
On August 15, 2007, I contacted Dudley's house and was told that our trophies had been shipped. On September 11, 2007 we received an e-mail from Sian (Tshabezi Safaris) stating that there was a problem with the ivory cards which had been lost and will need to be re-issued. We were assured that the shipment would be shipped soon and that we would receive a follow up e-mail to give us an update.
On October 12, 2007, we e-mailed Freight consultants and Lily Mines stated that they had e-mailed Dudley Rogers on August 9, 2007 to inform him that there was a problem with the paperwork.
On November 2, 2007 we were told by Tshabezi Safaris that all the documents were in place and our shipment would be with us within 6-8 weeks.
On December 10, 2007 Freight Consultants stated that our shipment was not ready to be shipped. There was still problems with the paperwork.
On January 16, 2008 we were told by Freight Consultants that the paperwork is at the bank and that everything should be back by Monday.
On January 31, 2008 we asked for an update and was told that the documents were still not back from the bank, but that the shippers wanted their money.
On February 11, 2008 we were told that there is problems with the paperwork and still do not have any date on when our trophies would be shipped.
We are not asking for anything but our trophies. The unfortunate thing is that we will have to pay $2,000 to get our trophies back and know that the hides are probably ruined after the amount of time.
We have done exactly what we were told to do. But cannot seem to expedite our shipment. We feel that our shipment would still not be this far if we had not called in September of 2007. We have contacted our booking agent and he continues to tell us to wait and got mad at us for blaming Tshabezi Safaris. The bottom line is Tshabezi Safaris did not even start the export process until October of 2007 and they are not following up to find out what is wrong.
We have no complaints about our hunt, but our trophy shipment has not been followed through on.
William and Linda Adams
E-mail April 13, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Dear Bill and Linda,
Yes, it was great meeting you too.
We had some copies of your TR2 go missing and had to redo all the paperwork for your hunt which has not been done.
Sorry about this, it will be with you soon.
Take care,
Cheers
Dudley
E-mail June 22, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Good Day Mrs. Adams
We confirm that we are handing your shipment of trophies. We are working on the paperwork to facilitate the export. It will be about 6 to 8 weeks before we can send them off.
Lily is away and will be back in the office next week Tuesday; she will get back to you with freight costs.
Regards,
Sibongile
E-mail August 15, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Please be advised that we are waiting for paperwork for the elephant tusks to come to us from Tshabezi Safaris. As soon as we get them, we will start working on the paperwork and send your trophies.
Regards,
Sibongile
E-mail August 15, 2007 From: Linda Adams To: Wendell Reich of Hunters Quest
Hi Wendell:
I just sent you an e-mail concerning our trophies, is this normal to take this long to get the paperwork for the elephants?
Thanks,
Linda
E-mail August 15, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich of Hunters Quest
Not uncommon at all, it has only been a year. Dudley averaged a good turnaround in 2006. This is a bit longer, but not below average in Zimbabwe. I would guess 18 months is average for Zimbabwe and Dudley is usually a lot better.
Not time to get worried. Worry time is at about two years.
It takes less time to make a baby than to get your trophies back from Zimbabwe.
Wendell Reich
E-mail April 13, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Hi Linda,
There has been a slight problem with your documentation, the ivory cards have been misplaced and we are in the process of acquiring new ones for you. We should have them in hand soon and I will send you a progress update early next week.
Sorry about the delay and not getting in contact with you sooner.
Sian
E-mail October 11, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
Hey Linda,
Not sure if you guys are up or not. Didn't want to call too late.
Dudley has been hunting in Mahenya and I have not been able to contact him for quite a while. I can't get a reply either.
I sent an e-mail a few weeks ago, yesterday and another one today and called yesterday and today as well.
I stand behind what I said last time. He will get the tusks to you or you will come back at no charge. He told me this personally, I did not have to ask him for this deal, he took it on himself to offer this.
I know Dudley well enough to know that he would tell me, flat out, if there was a problem with the tusks. If they were lost, he would tell me. If someone stole them, he would tell me and would try to work something out with you.
I will make it a point to ask him about the status when I do contact him. I am going to try again tomorrow morning before I leave town. If I can't get him then, I will try next week.
I know it is hard, and difficult to believe when you can't get an answer, but, please, don't worry about it. Nothing moves fast in Africa. Zimbabwe is even slower.
E-mail September 11, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Hi Linda,
We still have the original tusks and tags, the ivory card is like the address card for the ivory and it is needed for export. It is not something major that can't be done, its just with the way things work here it takes a bit of time to clear everything. We have to do an affidavit stating that the cards have been lost which has to be cleared and stamped by our local police, we then take that to National Parks and they begin the process of issuing us with new cards.
I hope that his cleared any misunderstandings you may have had and if you have any questions, please feel free to run them by me.
Sian
E-mail October 12, 2007 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Hello:
I understand that there is a problem with our shipment. I am told that the paperwork has been lost several times, however, are you the shipping place and do you have our shipment in your possession or is still at the taxidermists. If it is still at the taxidermist do you have their e-mail address?
Thank you,
Linda Adams
E-mail October 12, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Cargo Air
Dear Mrs. Adams,
I am sorry. Tshabezi have mislaid some documentation covering your trophies without which we cannot proceed with export formalities.
We have sent them an email on 9th August advising them what needs to be done and by copy of this email we are requesting them to advise us how far they have got with the process.
I will send another email under separate cover and will advise you in due course.
Regards,
Lily
E-mail October 27, 2007 To: Tshabezi Safaris From: Linda Adams
Dear Dudley:
We are extremely disappointed with the way our trophies have been handled and mostly the no communication to keep us updated as to when they will be shipped.
January at the SCI show you told us that our trophies would be shipped within about four months. Around April or May we received an e-mail from you stating that the TR2 forms had been lost, but not to worry.
On June 21, you had us contact Fright Consultants for shipping information. I did and was told that our trophies would be shipped in 6 to 8 weeks.
On August 15, 2007 I contacted Freight Consultants again and was told they were still waiting on paperwork for the elephant tusks.
Around September 1, we contacted your home and was told that they had been shipped. On September 11, 2007 we received an email from Sian stating that there was a problem with the ivory cards which had been lost and will need to be issued. We were reassured that all of our trophies were still there and would be shipped soon. Sian also stated that he would e-mail us the following week to give us an update. However, that was the last that we heard from anyone.
On October 12 we e-mailed Freight Consultants and Lily stated that they had e-mailed you on August 9 to inform you of the paperwork that was needed for shipping.
We are extremely concerned that our trophies have been lost or do not exist anymore. If they are still there we would like to know when exactly the paperwork will be taken care of and when the trophies will be shipped.
We did have an extremely good hunt with Kirk, one of the best ever, but we are upset with how the trophies have been handled.
Thank you,
Bill and Linda Adams
E-mail October 29, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Hi Bill and Linda,
I am truly sorry about this unacceptable delay in the shipment of your trophies. Sian left us this month and left many loose ends which we are highly disappointed with!
Here is what is happening...When I got your email I got straight onto it. I have so far found out that the ivory cards for your ivory and your TR2 were misplaced. I have found the documentation that I need to get these documents replaced. I have a vehicle going into Bulawayo tomorrow and his priority will be to go and get the documents from National Parks and take them to Freight Consultants.
I will try my best to keep you informed! And again I am very sorry about this delay...It should have been handled long ago. The incompetence is truly frustrating and I understand that you are worried. Please know that your trophies are at the shippers and safe, all this is a problem with the documentation. As I said before I will do my utmost to get this issue resolved shortly as possible and will keep you informed.
Best Regards,
Nikki Rogers
E-mail October 30, 2007 To: Tshabezi Safaris From: Linda Adams
Dear Nikki:
Thank you for the information, however, can you tell me how long this process and when do you expect our shipment of trophies to be sent?
Bill and Linda Adams
E-mail October 30, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Dear Linda,
I am trying to get that paperwork done as soon as I can. I will have it in Bulawayo this week. Tomorrow to be exact and am hoping that the process to get the ivory cards is quick and easy...But we never know with National Parks! If I get the documents in tomorrow as I plan to do then the trophies will land your side in 6-8 weeks from tomorrow.
Again I apologize that this matter was not dealt with seriously months ago.
Any more enquiries that you have I will be happy to answer.
I'll let you know as soon as I have given the ivory cards to Freight Consultants.
Regards,
Nikki
E-mail November 2, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Dear Linda,
I am glad to get back to you and tell you that all the documents are at the shippers as of Wednesday. Your shipment should be on its way now and will be with you in 6-8 weeks.
Regards,
Nikki
E-mail November 26, 2007 To: Tshabezi Safaris From: Wendell Reich
Any update on Bill Adams trophies?
Tshabezi Safaris wrote:
Hi Wendall
I just got hold of Freight Consultants and they said they have not received the ivory cards from us for the shipment of Bill's trophies! I have found all the documentation that I need to get these cards and have a vehicle going into town tomorrow...their priority will be to get those cards from National Parks so that Freight can get that shipment off ASAP. I got an email from Linda and did give her a basic run down of what was happening.
Truly sorry for the delay.
Regards,
Nikki Rogers
E-mail December 9, 2007 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Hello:
Just checking to see what the status of our trophy shipment is? Are they going to be shipped soon?
Thank you
Linda Adams
E-mail December 10, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Dear Mr. Adams
We are still working on the documentation - the delay has been with National Parks as the typist went on leave and they did not put someone in her place to do her work.
There has been a huge backlog but we have now collected the export permit. We are presently clearing through the veterinary services and will then submit all the paperwork to the bank - this is a requirement for all exports from Zimbabwe and normally takes about three weeks? Once it comes back from the bank we then customs clear.
I am sorry it is taking so long but this is how they work - I am sure we will be able to dispatch your shipment in the next 4-6 weeks.
We will keep you informed
Regards,
Lily
E-mail December 11, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
I am sending another email to you. According to the e-mail that I received from Freight Consultants on November 5, 2007. You had the documentation in place and was ready to ship in 6 to 8 weeks. Now from your e-mail today I am under the understanding that the documentation has been lost or was never in your hands. Please advise so I can contact Dudley this weekend.
E-mail December 11, 2007 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Dear Linda,
I did not say the documentation was lost or not in my hands - we apply for the CITES export permits from National Parks - the lady that types the permits at National Parks has not been there and there was a huge back log.
I advised that we had collected from Parks and submitted paperwork to the bank.
I am sorry for these delays - they are totally beyond our control and there are procedures that have to be followed.
We will keep you informed of progress.
E-mail December 11, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
I spoke with Dudley last week and did not ask him what was happening. I assumed all was set and possibly that the trophies were already on the way.
I feel bad that you guys are going through this. It is frustrating, I know, I am so sorry.
I will call Dudley again and see what the situation is.
E-mail December 11, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
Linda,
The only resolution to this problem is getting the trophies in your hands. I have no doubt that they are coming, and I will continue to keep track of it.
I want you guys to know how sorry I am that this happened to you. You and Bill are good honest people, you are pleasant and easy to work with and I know how much these trophies mean to you guys.
I am confident that this is going to work out, but, I understand that now you need to see proof.
Linda Adams wrote:
There is no point in speaking to Dudley about this because he is pointing fingers at the shipping company and they are pointing fingers at his operation. Nikki told us well over a month ago that they had the paperwork in hand and were hand delivering it to parks the next day, then she tells you the same thing a month later. There is always an excuse about why it's not done an it's never their fault. We call this at work getting "spun" or sending you constantly in several directions. This is exactly what is happening. It's always the same thing over and over again "4 to 6 weeks" or "they will be with you shortly". We have been hearing this for almost 8 months. I mean how hard this is. Even if we ever (and I doubt it) seen our trophies they will most likely be ruined.
E-mail December 14, 2007 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Hi Linda,
I am so sorry that you are so worried about your shipment. I hope I can put your mind a little at ease.
I sent the documents in at the beginning of November as I said and the shippers have been processing your shipment since then. The reason it has been held up a little longer is that our government organization (National Parks and Wildlife) gave the person who types all the official documents "time off". Being a little "slow" and not realizing that there are important shipments that need to be sent, they did not hire some one else to do the typing and so just told the shippers they would have to wait till the typist got back! This was not acceptable and there was much protest and pressure for them to get in a stand by person to do the documents that needed to be done so that the pending shipments could be sent. National Parks and Wildlife have now got this "stand in person" to do the typing so your documents are being processed.
This truly is the African way and we live with the frustration of dealing with this all the time here.
I'm not sure if your paperwork has gone through yet as I am sure there was a lot of backlog due to the delay of National Parks in getting someone sooner to process the documents that were needed for shipping, etc.
We are truly sorry that it has taken so long for your shipment to leave but please rest assured that your shipment will be with you shortly.
If you have any more queries please let me know and I will be happy to answer them.
Regards,
Nikki
E-mail January 31, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
Linda/Bill,
Dudley said, "They will get their trophies. If they do not get their trophies, I will give them a free elephant hunt."
I can only assume that he means the same type of hunt that you purchased, which is a 10-day non-trophy (but exportable) elephant bull. I can also assume that also means free observer rate for Linda.
Now, I will say again. You have to give time for the system to work. Zimbabwe moves at the speed of a tortoise. You have jumped to conclusions and assumed that Dudley, Tess, Nikki and everyone else is lying to you because you are not familiar with the process of exporting the trophies.
I have no reason to believe that your trophies will not ship.
I have no reason to believe that the hides will be ruined. If they are, we will sort that out when they go to the tannery.
This is not the first time I have dealt with this. The worst trophy shipping nightmare I have ever had was getting trophies from Piet in Mozambique. We measured that one in years, not months.
They are coming. I don't know when, but as long as Zimbabwe holds it together, they are coming.
Linda Adams wrote:
Hi Wendell:
We still have not received our trophies back and it does not appear that they will be shipped any time soon or at all. Bill and I still do NOT believe that we will see our trophies. Even if we do, it has been (18 months) too long and the hides will be no good.
So seeing how we have not received our trophies, when and what type of free elephant hunt is Dudley willing to give us?
Let me know,
Linda
E-mail January 31, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
Nobody disagrees that somebody dropped the ball. Could be any of them.
The only point I want to make is that it takes time. I expect time to ship. I hope they ship soon.
Linda Adams wrote:
Wendell:
We are not assuming anything, we have the e-mails from the shippers/consultants to prove that Dudley was to blame and they are putting the blame on the shippers. The ball was dropped long before the shippers were involved. If we had not called over there and sent many, many e-mails our shipment would still be sitting there with nothing being done. According to the e-mail that I received in August from the shippers Dudley was supposed to get the forms around. We would not be so upset by this if Dudley had not told us in January of 2007 that our shipment would be sent in three months which would have been in April of 2007.
We have received many excuses stating that the TR2 forms went missing, than the ivory cards were lost several times over and when we finally called in September Dudley said that there was a problem. Even though we have e-mails from the shipping consultants that state there was a problem in August. Ultimately whose responsibility is it? I would like to know how many people that hunted with them in 2008 still has not received their trophies yet. We just want our shipment back, but we appear to be a couple of whiners.
Bill and Linda
E-mail January 15, 2008 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Hi Lily:
Any news on how things are going for the permits that are needed for export? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
E-mail January 16, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Good Day
Please be advised that the paperwork is now with the bank. We should get them back by next week. Thereafter, the paperwork will go through customs and thereafter it will be ready to be shipped.
We will keep you posted
E-mail January 31, 2008 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Hello:
Just wanted an update of where the process is with our shipment. Do you by chance have an approximate shipping date and weigh bill number yet? Sorry, to bother you again, but we have been waiting 18 months for our shipment and are really concerned that the trophies will be ruined.
E-mail February 1, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Dear Mrs. Adams
We checked with the bank but the documentation was still not ready. They advised us that we should check again on Monday. All goods leaving Zimbabwe have to have bank clearance and this is what we are waiting for. Once we receive the clearance we will be able to dispatch your shipment.
We propose we send your shipment on a freight prepaid basis as this reduces costs and you can save yourself about 10-15 percent of freight costs as there are supplementary collection fees when we send on a charges collect basis.
The total cost ex Bulawayo to arrival Houston is USD $1968.55. Please confirm this is acceptable and we will arrange for an invoice to be sent to you with the details of where payment should be made.
We have noted that it has to be sent to you c/o ABX Logistics.
E-mail February 2, 2008 To: Freight Consultants From: Linda Adams
Hi Lily:
Could you send me a list of what is in the crate as the shipping seems a little high to me for what we are expecting. As soon as I can get the invoice and verify what is coming and you have all the documentation in place I will wire the money.
Please send the bank details also. Again, I do appreciate all of your help and always e-mailing me back in a timely fashion.
E-mail February 4, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Dear Linda
Here is what is listed on the packing list supplied by Tshabezi Safaris
Elephant - two ears, two feet, two tusks, one tail Baboon - one skull, one full skin bushbuck - one shoulder skin, one set horns warthog - one shoulder skin, one set tusks zebra - one cape, one backskin
There are three cases weighting 122 kilos with a volumetric weight of 179 kilos on which the freight has been calculated. Please also note the quotation includes all handling, customs clearing, transport, fumigation and application for all export permits.
E-mail February 8, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Hi Lily:
Yes, that is our trophies. Did all the paperwork come in so the crate will be ready to ship? If the crate is ready to be shipped do you have the weigh bill numbers for tracking? And yes the shipment will be going to ABX Logistics in Houston, Texas. When the crate is ready to be shipped I will wire the money as it only should take about 48 to 72 hours to get the money to you.
E-mail February 11, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Freight Consultants
Good day
Please be advised that the paperwork is still with the bank, there is a small query which we are sorting out. We will advise once the paperwork comes out.
E-mail February 12, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Tshabezi Safaris
Hi Linda
Your paperwork is stuck at the bank, the government bank has not got your acquittal number for some reason but that is what we have to deal with in this country. Please realize that this has nothing to do with neglect on our part. I know it is unacceptable and it is also highly frustrating. We have to deal with this all the time here. Please have patience with our dying system in this country...I got onto the bank today and they are working on it. I will try to keep you informed as much as possible.
Nikki
E-mail March 9, 2008 To: Linda Adams From: Wendell Reich
I received the letter from The Hunting Report yesterday regarding the trophy shipping. I thought the trophies were on the way. I got an e-mail from Lily on February 4 saying that they were ready and would ship soon. I never knew that they were not. I expected that they were going to arrive in the US any day now. Apparently that did not happen.
Once again, I am going to apologize for the way this has been handled. I can put myself in your shoes. I can see that you can only be told so many time "they are about to ship" before you start to doubt that people are telling you the truth. I do not blame you for being upset and I can not blame you for being frustrated.
Regarding the condition of the capes. Let's get them here and we will sort it out when they arrive. When it comes time to pay for the shipment, please just pay for it and have it shipped. I doubt they will be ruined. I have seen trophies arrive much later than 18 months and still be fine. We will need to send them to the tannery first before we will know anything.
If any of the capes are ruined, we will make it right. I have a warthog cape here that is already tanned. You can have it if yours is ruined. As for the baboon and bushbuck and zebra, Dudley will sort it out. We will make it right.
There is only one line in your letter that I disagree with. I did not get mad at you for blaming Tshabezi. If you thought I was trying to defend them, then I was not clear.
It is Tshabezi Safaris responsibility to get the trophies to you. If they have not done it in a timely manner, then the responsibility lies with them, no one else. I thought I had told you in the past that Dudley had claimed responsibility for the lost papers, on more than one occasion. Maybe I was not clear. Maybe I never told you, I do not remember. I have been more focused on resolving the problem, rather than assigning blame.
Please just understand that I never got upset with either of you. On the contrary, I feel bad that this has taken so long to resolve and I look forward to the trophies arriving in the USA.
E-mail February 1, 2008 To: Freight Consultants From: Wendell Reich
Hello,
I am checking on the status of the trophies of Bill and Linda Adams who hunted with Tshabezi Safaris in 2006. Can you tell me the status? Or an estimated time that it will ship?
E-mail February 4, 2008 To: Wendell Reich From: Freight Consultants
Dear Mr. Reich
We sent them an email giving them a freight quotation and advising that the shipment was now ready to be shipped.
They requested details of the contents of their box which I have just emailed to them.
Regards,
Lily
Rebuttal from Tshabezi Safaris March 14, 2008
I firstly want to apologize to Bill and Linda for this problem with their trophies and I guess the first mistake was that we sent the paper work of their trophies to a local taxidermist in error and when we went to collect the paperwork they denied having the documents and did not change their stand on this though we know it is the only place the paperwork had been send, and they had received the rest that had been sent to them. Case closed.
It was not up to us to get the paperwork in order. We went to National Parks with the first copy of the TR2 and they said we must photocopy it with a letter. We did this and it was not acceptable to reserve bank and we had to start again and get new TR2's. Before this happened we had the government task force hit us and they took and held all our documents. For months we did our best to recover the documentation and eventually we got most of our documentation back and tried to proceed with the documents and did so. We were then hit again by the task force which held up the process again.
Once through with this dilemma we had it all together and when we went to Parks with the CITES tags for the ivory, they ordered us to get new ivory cards and we had to go to the police to get a release form and an affidavit. The police we went to had never done this so again it took nearly two months to clear this issue and we were given the new cards and the trophies were sent to the shippers who then have to get their paperwork done and then again more issues have come up.
During the holiday season here, the secretary, who does all the official typing of documents for National Parks went on leave, National Parks neglected to get someone to take her place and only after many complaints due to the hold up of documents a part time person was hired to do the documentation by this time there was a huge back log and it took a long time for the shippers to retrieve the documentation for further processing.
The shipper Lily Milne and my daughter Nikki are tearing their hair out with the inefficiency of the Banks and Parks to get this completed. We are now dealing with the Reserve bank here who have misplaced the acquittal number and are trying to find it. We have been onto the bank a number of times and are pushing to get these documents released post haste as we have been doing all along with all the different departments that the paperwork has gone through up till this time. The basis of it all is that the trophies have been at the shippers since the middle of last year.
We are sorry for the outrageous delay, but our paperwork is in order and the crate will leave as soon as we get the CD1 stamped. I do no know what else to do as it has been a nightmare for us too. I guess the moral of the story is "do not loose your original documents".
We do apologize again.
Sincerely
D.H. Rogers Tshabezi Safaris
Rebuttal from Wendell Reich of Hunter's Quest March 11, 2008
Thank you forwarding the letter from the Adams regarding their trophy shipping.
Bill and Linda contacted me in August of 2007 with concerns about the shipping of their trophies, since that time I have had numerous e-mails and phone calls with Tshabezi, Lilly at Freight Consultants in Zimbabwe and Bill and Linda Adams.
Unfortunately, a mistake was made and the paperwork for their trophies was lost. Re-issuing the proper documents has proved to be a nightmare. Just when they believe they have everything sorted out, the Reserve Bank, National Parks, or the Government Task Force have either changed their initial request or in some way hindered the progress.
Every time Tshabezi believed that the issue with paperwork was sorted out, or about to be resolved, they would inform the Adams that the trophies were about to ship, only to find issues that prevented them from moving the trophies.
The problem is that Bill and Linda have been told numerous times. "Your trophies are about to ship" by either Tshabezi, or the shipping company in Zimbabwe. Nobody ever intentionally lied to them, when they were told to expect shipment soon. They were told this because everyone thought the issues were resolved.
In September of 2007, I called Dudley to see what the issue was and ask about the progress. After explaining the issue, he told me, "Please tell them not to worry, they will receive their trophies. If they do not receive their trophies, I will give them a free elephant hunt."
Bill and Linda had expressed concern that their trophies would be ruined by now. I do not believe this is going to be a problem, as you know delays like this are not uncommon out of Zimbabwe. To be sure, I phone their taxidermist and asked his opinion. He confirmed that there should not be a problem with any of the capes.
I emailed Bill and Linda just after I received your report. (I have forwarded the full-email for your review) I apologized, again, for the delay. In the email I told them that if their hides were ruined, Dudley and I will make it right, more specifically, we will replace them. I have already offered to give them a tanned warthog cape of mine, if theirs is ruined. Dudley told me that if the other hides are ruined, he will replace them at his cost.
Dudley and his staff at Tshabezi Safaris have been working to get this issue sorted out. Dudley has offered them a free elephant hunt, if their trophies are not shipped and to replace the capes, at his cost, if they are ruined. He and I will continue to work on this until it is settled.
May 23, 2008 To: Wendell and Dudley From: Don Causey
I have just learned that the Adams' trophy shipment problem turns on the issue of what's called acquittal number from the bank. This means the real problem is, the proper money has not been banked in Zimbabwe to secure the release of these trophies. If true, that is a very serious issue. Can you explain? Have you actually paid the proper amount and you just can't get the bank to move on providing an acquittal number? Is there some way to provide the Adams proof that you banked the proper amount of money?
June 19, 2008 To: Don Causey From: Tshabezi Safaris
The acquittal number for Adams' trophies is through some time ago. All the shippers are waiting for is the problem with National Parks Cites documents. Adams trophies are on the urgent list and will be leaving as soon as the cites clearance arrives from Parks.
1. The trophies are at the shippers 2. The banking was done within 7 days of the hunt and has been acknowledged and cleared by our bank and the Reserve bank and acquittal number issues. 3. The documents are now with Parks office waiting for CITIES documents to be issued. This is not an issue of validity, only to ensure your Fish and Wildlife accept the documents. 4. The trophies will leave on the next plane out after the Parks documents get to Freight Consultants.
I hope this clarifies the issue, and let me tell you that my Daughter Nikki has been on this every day as hard as she can to get these trophies out.
July 10, 2008 To: Don Causey From: Wendell Reich
The resumption of trophy shipments from Zimbabwe to the USA is slowly getting going again. On Tuesday this week a meeting was held in Bulawayo between the all the main players in the shipping/taxidermy business.
Taxidermy Enterprises have had to hire a new warehouse to house all the consignments waiting to ship - over 1,000 crates, Maple is holding almost double that number and Freight Consultants somewhere around 800 consignments - all ready to go and just awaiting parks to issue the export papers.
Implementation of the new CITES documentation by national parks has been very slow. On a positive note however, is that Fungai Maroke is now Acting Regional Manager (PW) for Matebeleland and the Bulawayo permits office falls under him. He is a superb officer and since taking over has more than trebled the permits office output.
The industry is trying to assist him and apply pressure to parks head office to equip the Bulawayo office with the staff and computers they need. (Currently one qualified typist on contract and one computer - other staff are assisting and extending the work day but they are not typist and there are too many mistakes on permits).
Also, the new permits were clearly designed by a true bureaucrat with no idea of how they will be used, and there is no place on the new permits to enter the CITES tag numbers and Ivory serial No/weight. This means that Ivory cannot be shipped.
The industry in conjunction with SOAZ is working with ministry to try and get the relevant parks officers to fix the problems. Once the new cabinet is named this week we an persue this with more vigor.
Lastly, many Foreign hunters do not realize just how much email does not arrive? I have often seen comments on this forum to the effect that "I have mailed X three times and had no reply".
If you do not put a delivery and read receipt on your mails you cannot assume people have received them. Zimbabwe goes through spates where one server or another is particular bad. - Don Heath
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