Zambian Supreme Court ruling on hunting safari industry...

In the Supreme Court of Zambia on 14 August 2007, in the case, Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) versus Blackwell Banda (for Nawalya/Munyamadzi Community Resource Board (CRB)), the judges ruled that the Hunting Concession Agreement (HCA) between ZAWA, the community in the hunting block (represented by the CRB), and the safari hunting operator, constituted a license, which like any other license issued by ZAWA, could be terminated by them at will.

This ruling will have far reaching consequences for the hunting industry should ZAWA, for whatever reason, wish to remove a concession from an operator, or remove a particular operator from a community where they are in a productive partnership. The rights of both the community (the customary landowners) and the safari hunting investor are therefore affected.

A Zambian safari hunting operator defends his concessionary rights in the High Court...

On 23 October, Leopard Ridge Safaris requested that the High Court in Lusaka recognize their rights to their safari hunting concession. such rights not being recognized by the Zambia Wildlife Authority who had removed Leopard Ridge from their concession without due process, and who have recently put their area out to public tender. The judge's decision is expected shortly. The industry awaits; investors await.