By John Cassim
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe
Concern is mounting among hunters in Zimbabwe’s wildlife-rich Matabeleland region that business will be affected following calls by Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri for the extradition of American amateur hunter Walter James Palmer for last month’s killing of “Cecil” the lion, a local tourist attraction.
“We are appealing to the relevant authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so he is held to account for his illegal actions,” Muchinguri declared in a Friday statement.
Palmer, a dentist by profession – along with professional hunter Theodro Bronchonrst and Honest Trymore Ndlovu, the owner of Antoinette Farm – are accused of having connived to kill the 13-year-old lion last month with a crossbow.
Antoinette Farm is located in the Gwayi River Conservancy in the Hwange Rural District, adjacent to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.
‘Our livelihood’
Hunters in the Gwayi River Conservancy, for their part, voice concern that their businesses will be adversely affected in the event that Palmer is extradited.
“To people like Palmer, hunting is a hobby. But for hunters, wildlife is our livelihood. It [Palmer’s extradition] is likely going to hurt business,” professional hunter Eugene Ncube, who works in the area, told Anadolu Agency.
“We are safari outfitters and aggressively market our hunting to people all over the world. From my experience, Americans are our biggest clients,” he said.
“Therefore, if paid clients in America believe that when they come to Zimbabwe they could end up in prison, then our business is ruined,” Ncube added.
The Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe voiced similar concerns.
“The Zimbabwean government should handle this matter with care, as it has the potential to scare off clients from the U.S. who might take it to mean that going for hunting expeditions in Zimbabwe is illegal,” association president Emmanuel Fundira told Anadolu Agency.
Fundira went on to stress, however, that – as long as laws and regulations are adhered to – hunting is not a crime.
“If I were Palmer, I would turn myself in to the authorities and explain my position. Then, only if a crime was committed, he would have to face the law,” Fundira told Anadolu Agency.
Cain Mathema, provincial minister for Matabeleland-North, in which the Hwange Rural District is located, for his part, said visitors should respect the law of the land.
“We don’t care that America is not the best of friends with Zimbabwe. But we’re not desperate; our friends should follow the law and customs of the land – sanctions or no sanctions,” Mathema told Anadolu Agency.
'Agenda’
Muchinguri, meanwhile, believes Palmer intentionally tried to hurt U.S.-Zimbabwe relations by killing the iconic animal.
“One can conclude with confidence that Dr. Palmer – being an American citizen – had a well-orchestrated agenda to tarnish the image of Zimbabwe and further strain the relationship between Zimbabwe and the U.S.,” the minister asserted on Friday.
Last month, Palmer reportedly paid $50,000 to hunt a lion with a crossbow near the Hwange National Park. It later turned out the lion was Cecil, a well-known tourist attraction whose death – which was apparently slow and painful – led to an international outcry.
The U.S. State Department, for its part, does not comment on specific extradition requests as a matter of policy.
