Samuel Mbewe
In a strong stand against international campaigns aimed at banning trophy hunting, Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) has voiced its opposition, citing concerns about the impact on local communities that rely on hunting for their livelihoods.
This protest, organized during the CBNRM conference, underscored the growing frustration of local residents who feel that decisions affecting their way of life are being made by people far removed from their daily realities.
Mutende Simwanza, Governance Manager at CBNRM, explained that the rally was a direct response to pressure from Western countries, particularly the UK, to impose a ban on the importation of hunting trophies.
He highlighted that local communities living in proximity to wildlife should be the ones making decisions regarding hunting practices, as they have the most knowledge and experience in managing the delicate balance between wildlife conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Simwanza argued that these communities depend heavily on sustainable wildlife management for their survival, and any legislation that interferes with this could have detrimental effects.
“These communities have been at the forefront of successful conservation efforts for years. A sudden shift in policies driven by external actors could undermine these efforts, threatening both the environment and the local economy,” he stated.
The rally reflects a growing sentiment in many parts of Africa, where wildlife conservation is increasingly seen not just as a global responsibility but as a local economic necessity.
The debate continues to intensify, with opponents of the trophy hunting ban emphasizing the need for nuanced, community-led solutions rather than one-size-fits-all international policies.
