POACHING INSTIGATING VIOLENCE, KILLING TOURISM

THULANI Mahlobo (60), a retired game ranger, is lucky to be alive.

He is grateful for the intervention of the police in the nick of time when a mob of about 100 residents from Manzana at Tshaneni attacked him, following the killing of a poacher who had gone to kill animals and steal meat inside a private farm. The mob further walked him to the home of a ranger suspected of killing the poacher where they forced Mahlobo to set alight two huts at the homestead. He was then forced to ingest fuel with an intention to turn him into a human torch. This is cruelty beyond the characteristics of an ordinary community. It is mafia-style torture and smacks of external involvement. While Mahlobo has lived to see another day, several others in his line of work have not been as fortunate.

Protecting

Tasked with protecting a highly valuable resource for this country, wildlife, theirs is becoming one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Poaching is also threatening the livelihoods of thousands of emaSwati in a country that is in desperate need of jobs. We cannot allow this. Poaching is a crime and cannot be seen any differently than armed robbery or murder. This is why it is important for the police to round up the mob that attacked Mahlobo immediately and bring them before the courts to face the full might of the law. Tourism and Environmental Affairs Minister Jane Simelane has urged communities to cease poaching and respect private property. However, this plea alone is insufficient to address the root causes of the problem and achieve a lasting solution.

Poaching has severe economic consequences for Eswatini’s tourism industry, a major contributor to the national economy, generating over E622 million annually, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2023 Travel and Economic Impact report. The industry relies heavily on diverse wildlife and if poaching continues unchecked, it could trigger another crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the tourism sector and led to widespread job losses. Post-COVID-19, industry stakeholders have worked diligently to rebuild the sector, restore employment and solidify Eswatini’s position as a top global tourism destination, as recognised by Lonely Planet in 2020. Notably, Eswatini was the sole African nation on the list.

Safeguard

To safeguard these gains, we need to combat poaching effectively. In doing so, we should not be naïve to the fact that modern poachers are not merely seeking sustenance but are often part of larger criminal syndicates, similar to cattle rustling. These syndicates are armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47s, not with slings and pellet guns. Over the past decade, Big Game Parks has reported arresting and handing over 1 143 poachers to the police, averaging one arrest every three days. Additionally, 93 illegal firearms, including four AK-47s and a .38 Special stolen during an armed robbery, have been seized. Between January 1 and September 10, 2024, the Eswatini Game Rangers Association (EGRA) recorded 126 poaching incidents, resulting in the deaths of 327 animals, 29 dogs and the collection of 3 112 snares.

Clearly, this is no small hunting pastime for these criminals. It is an emerging crisis that needs a whole lot more than political statements. It is time government initiates constructive dialogues between communities, game farmers and law enforcement agencies in order to develop mutual understanding, break down barriers and build trust. Residents living near game reserves should be empowered to actively participate in conservation efforts, shifting perceptions and fostering a sense of ownership. Community-based conservation initiatives, such as wildlife monitoring programmes and eco-tourism ventures, can provide economic benefits to local communities and incentivise wildlife protection over illegal activities. Communities must also be educated about the Game Act, which protects wildlife regardless of location.

Lessons

Lessons can be learnt from countries across Africa on how to make notable strides in successfully balancing conservation and community development. I do believe, however, that homegrown solutions are the best cure for our emerging crisis. We need rigorous anti-poaching measures and community-based natural resource management programmes. We are also a part of a growing collaboration across the globe working towards curbing the movement of poached goods, but much more work still needs to be done in each country to ensure the crime is uprooted at source.

Various strategies are at play, which include stricter law enforcement and harsher penalties, as poachers are often armed and dangerous, posing a significant threat to game rangers.
The recent attack on Mahlobo should serve as a wake-up call. It has traumatised his children and perpetuated a cycle of violence, teaching the children of the deceased poacher that illegal activities can be defended with violence. This dangerous cycle must be broken to prevent the escalation of violence and the destruction of communities. The country has enough violence to deal with, from gender based violence to mob justice. We cannot afford to breed a future generation of killers incentivised by a syndicate that has no interest in their future at heart.
 

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