‘POACHERS KILLING TOURISM INDUSTRY’

MBABANE – Poachers are ‘killing’ the tourism industry and threatening the lives of emaSwati, through unemployment and depriving the country of economic growth.This threat to game park tourism is through the poaching of wildlife, and this publication regularly reports about incidents where poachers are found within game parks and as such, fatal confrontations between them and game rangers ensue.The tourism industry generates over E622 million per annum, according to the Travel and Economic Impact 2023 published by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

However, this sector, on which the country has formulated a National Development Plan, hangs in the balance, as a pervasive threat posed by poaching intensifies. The game rangers’ threats to life are not only the game they protect, but also the sophisticated poaching syndicates and wildlife trafficking networks.The poachers have become brazen enough that they engage in their illicit acts in broad daylight. In an incident that occurred on Friday, Nisela Farms reported that while a group of game rangers were on patrol at Valley Estates, Nsoko, they encountered two suspects who were audaciously poaching using firearms within the boundaries of the farm, which also contains game animals.

Surroundings

Valley Estates Farm is situated on the river banks of the Ngwavuma River, which cuts through Lubulini and surrounding areas, in the Lubombo Region. The rangers were said to have lawfully challenged the suspects with the intention to arrest them, but immediately when the suspected poachers became aware of them, they fired shots at the game rangers.“In the ensuing action, both suspects continued to resist arrest and multiple shots were fired by the game rangers, during which, two rangers were shot. In response to severe life-threatening conditions, the game rangers fired back at one of the suspects, disarming and fatally wounding him,” reads the statement in part.

The second suspect was reportedly also disarmed on the scene and handed over to police officers stationed at Lubulini. The law enforcers were said to have arrived promptly and are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Nisela Farms reported that home-made shotguns and other poaching equipment were recovered on the scene. They reported that the two game rangers (one in a serious condition) were rushed to hospital and are undergoing treatment.“Their condition is stable, but surgery is required. We are grateful to the hospital staff for the good care that they are receiving,” the statement reads in part. The private game park alleged that it had come to its attention that the deceased suspect had had frequent encounters with law enforcers at Nsoko and the neighbouring Republic of South Africa. Nisela Farms reported that while it highly regrets the outcome of this very aggressive and violent confrontation with the poachers, its condolences were extended to the family of the deceased. They further wished their game rangers a speedy recovery as they clearly risked their lives to uphold the laws of Eswatini. The incident took place just two days after Prime Minister (PM) Russell Dlamini announced the establishment of the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) within the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).

Communities

This unit, according to the National Commissioner (NatCom) of Police, Vusi Masango, will operate under the Stock Theft Unit of the REPS and work in close collaboration with the Nature Protection Association, as well as all structures within nearby communities. According to the website of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, 95 rangers were killed in the line of duty between June 2021 and July 2022 alone.  The association announced: “At least 565 African rangers have been killed in action since 2011. 295 of these rangers have been murdered by militia groups, terrorists and bandits in coordinated attacks or by poachers while protecting our wildlife and wild places.”

Meanwhile, this publication gathered that the deceased, aged 39, was identified as Themba Mngometulu from Ngonini, under Lubulini Constituency. His body was reportedly taken to a mortuary after being certified dead by medical personnel. His family was also informed by police officers about the shooting. A family member told this publication that the family received unexpected visitors on Saturday morning.Alpheous Mkhabela, who identified himself as a brother-in-law to the deceased, said the visitors identified themselves as police officers before informing them that a family member had been a victim of a deadly shooting at a private farm.

Visit

“I first saw a police van. Then, I was informed there were police officers at home and that the purpose of their visit was to relay a message that my brother-in-law had been killed during a shootout at a wildlife sanctuary,” narrated Mkhabela. He said there was suspicion that their relative was hunting game at the private farm. “We heard there was gunfire exchange, which resulted in his death and that a ranger was also seriously injured during the shooting. We were told that the shooting occurred at around 3pm yesterday (Friday),” he said.The deadly shooting was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati. “I can confirm that the incident took place,” she said. This is not an isolated incident since a number of poaching incidents have been reported to the police. A recent example is that of an intruder who was shot by rangers at a game reserve, outside Sidvokodvo, after he was suspected of setting up snares at the wildlife sanctuary. The man was ambushed by rangers after they found a impala trapped in a snare inside the game reserve.

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