Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
SAFARI Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) president, Dr Emmanuel Fundira says there is need to infuse history and culture in Zimbabwe’s hunting and safari industry for sustainable nature management.
Dr Fundira, who attended the ‘One with Nature’ World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition in Budapest, Hungary which ran from 25 September to 14 October, said one of the key take aways from the expo was rich culture, diversity and history of the hunting and safari industry.
While at the Expo, he represented Zimbabwe and also exhibited the African Operators’ and Professional Hunters’ Associations of Africa (OPHAA), a body made up of members that represent African hunting associations.
“What we have noticed here in Budapest is that Central Europe’s hunting and safari industry is rich in culture, diversity and history. There is an infusion of culture with the historical significance of some of the sports like hunting expeditions which makes it much more connected to the people and their present day living.”
He said that the Hungarian Expo was an eye opener and showed the true significance of how hunting should be conducted especially how it can also be connected to the people. Dr Fundira said that from a learning point of view, they have noted that for Zimbabwe, there are lots of markets that need to be developed in the hunting and safari industry.
“Something we want to take back home and use as part of one of the deliverables is to encourage players in the hunting and safari industry to engage and develop markets in Central Europe. There is a lot that we can learn and gain as a country on issues to do with the relationship between hunting and society, what are the best and most effective solutions?”
He said that within the show itself each period evoked short takes which were very easy for visitors to understand by placing hunting in the historical Hungary. Dr Fundira said that for every major game species exhibited, there was a connection to certain historical contexts, something that could be replicated in Zimbabwe as well.
“The Expo was a very sharp and well-focused way of marketing, there were various famous Hungarian hunters who presented wonderful sculptures. Also of interest were the works of a renowned artist George Kovach who is an American postwar and contemporary painter and popular athlete Ferenc Puskás who was undoubtedly one of the best Hungarian football players of all time.”
Dr Fundira said some of the sculptures were complemented by short films that contextualised everything being showcased into perspective, also in line with the discussion points that were done by experts on various subjects.
This year, the Expo’s 50th anniversary had a colourful and diverse series of programmes, with the main event being an internationally important central exhibition at the HUNGEXPO exhibition and conference centre. Various foreign countries attended and were able to exhibit and showcase the hunting and safari industry from their country’s perspective.
The exhibition used latest technology to authoritatively and expressively present the values related to the sustainable use of nature.The first ever hunting exhibition was held in Hungary in 1871 and was primarily a specialist forum for hunters. To mark the 100th anniversary of that event, the World Hunting Expo was held in Budapest in 1971. The last Expo, held 50 years ago in 1971, represent a memory that abides to the present day among hunters, nature lovers and conservationists.
The 1971 Expo presented the role of hunting and the multi-faceted relationship between people and nature. A total of 35 countries from the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia and America participated in the event. With over two million tickets purchased for the exhibition- two hundred thousand purchased by foreign visitors from various parts of the world.