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The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) has offered for sale 30 “tourist hunting blocks” within game reserves and other areas.
TAWA, in a statement on its website, said: “Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) invites applications from qualified applicants for the allocation of Tourist Hunting Blocks through electronic auctioning (e-auctioning).
“Currently, there are 30 vacant hunting Blocks within Game Reserves (GRs), Game Controlled Areas (GCAs) and Open Areas (OAs) that are immediately available for e-auctioning. Eligible hunting companies can be allocated up to five (5) hunting blocks each, which shall be of different categories. Auctioning will commence on 8th February 2021 and will last for seven consecutive days.”
Tawa has set out requirements for companies interested in the blocks, including being registered “within Tanzania intending to engage in hunting of animals”, as well having at least one director with five years of experience in wildlife-based business and conservation in the country.
Some of the hunting blocks are located within the Selous Game Reserve ecosystem, which is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Tourism is one of the key pillars of the Tanzanian economy.
The government initially placed 26 hunting blocks on an online auctioning platform in 2019 in order to enhance transparency and curb corruption.
Last year’s auction was reportedly shelved after the government was unable to sell many of the blocks in previous auctions.
