Corruption in Namibia: Government forced community to shut up | Travel News

What is the Namibian government trying to hide? D

Hunted by allegations of corruption and unethical operators, a questionable license system, and the controversial hunt for so-called "problem animals" – the Namibian hunting community has now been silenced by his own government. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) issued a memorandum banning the display of dead animals hunted on social media. The memorandum calls for the practice of taking pictures of hunters posing with trophies, not chasing each other, "unethical", which raises concerns about what the Namibian government is trying to hide. turn it elsewhere, "says Izak Smit of Desert Lions Human Relations Aid. "Instead, the MET should ensure adequate regulation and control of the hunt … and clean the industry of unethical operators who target rare high-value species such as elephants and lions." of the desert "

. By supporting the policy and calling on their members to do the same, this requirement has not been well accepted by parties on either side. The pro-hunters defended their right to hunt on social media, claiming that the statement boils down to anti-hunters while others say it just allows the MET to carry out a barbaric slaughter of lions and wildlife in the secret. According to NAPHA, "Namibia can not oppose any opposition to hunting".

The memorandum specifically prohibits licensed hunters from posting or sending photographs on public platforms, rendering this condition inapplicable. "For the moment, we believe that it is the right thing to do and we are optimistic that hunters and safaris adhere to this moral issue in the absence of legal support. We are counting on the goodwill of everyone, "says MET

The MET attempted to adopt a similar motion in 2017 that would enforce license conditions prohibiting the marketing of hunting trophies on the internet. this was shot down by NAPHA as they said that "advertising is critical for these businesses."

The memorandum comes on the back of a social media reaction after the recent murder of another DES adapted lion to the desert, as well as a number of allegations that members of the ministry personally pocket funds for trophy hunting.The killing of the iconic lion, Gretzky, caused a call widespread media to boycott Namibia as a tourist destination. "The skin, the bones and the claws also seem to have disappeared in the air, even though MET staff managed the problem," says Smith.

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