Regulating the Hunting Industry in Tanzania

Reflections on the Legislative, Institutional and Policy-Making Frameworks

November, 2001
By Dr H. I Majamba

ISBN 9987-648-10-X

INTRODUCTION

This work critically analyze the operations of the hunting industry of Tanzania in the light of existing institutions, the law and policy-making frameworks. The study is essentially a follow up to one of LEAT's Policy Briefs that focused on the granting of hunting blocks in Tanzania as one aspect of the hunting industry¹. This study provides a comparatively more holistic approach in analyzing the operation, activities and features of the hunting industry of Tanzania from a legislative and policy-making perspective.

Chapter One traces the history and development of hunting in Tanzania from the pre-colonial era to the present from a social-legal perspective. Here, I point out that the nature and form of the hunting industry prevalent today must be located in this epoch. The main features of the hunting industry in this era are found, in among other things, the institutional set-ups, rules, cultures, rituals and general customs of most local hunting community members.

The traditional hunting features of the local communities were disturbed with the arrival of foreign traders and hunters, first by the Arabs and Persians along the East Coast and then the colonial regimes. The effects of the imposition of colonial hunting laws and polices onto local community members' hunting practices is discussed in this chapter. The subsequent adoption of the colonial hunting laws and the implication for the industry at independence is also delved onto.

Chapter Two explores the extent to which the government of Tanzania has complied with the provisions of major international legal instruments relating to hunting. Chapter Three reviews the legislative and policy framework regulating the industry and points out some of the major weaknesses and constraints.

Chapter Four sets out to explore some of the salient features inherent in the institutional and legal framework that may operate to the detriment of the industry. This chapter also delves onto the perception of the hunting industry from the point of view of local community members to that of the private hunters as well as local governments in areas where hunting activities are conducted.

Chapter Five sets out the conclusions and recommendations.

1. See LEAT Policy Brief No. 5