By Makena Ngoato, licensed hunting outfitter and wildlife trader
Transformation in the wildlife sector cannot happen without a collective will. Fingers can be pointed at the government as much as one desires, but if the candidates do not have a burning desire and commitment, everything becomes a waste of time and resources.
Most government-trained professional hunters (PHs) have fallen off the cart along the way because they thought the wildlife industry was an easy ride. They were picked by placing an advert out setting age, gender and race as a criterion. Gender, age and skin colour are not the only requirements for transformation. Transformation is not a tick box exercise but a collective effort by all role-players with a strong will to work together towards changing the status quo.
Most people who respond to these adverts are hungry unemployed who end up feeling betrayed when they cannot use the skills acquired in their training if they happen to pass, as more than 90% of them fail the first attempt – but that’s a topic for another day. These candidates have everything required but still lack the will to endure the hardships of this industry. They graduate today and expect to move into a well-furnished lodge on a 1 000 ha plus plot with all huntable species and clients waiting for them the next day.
The first step towards transformation is through learning. Candidates must be willing and prepared to spend no less than 18 months in the field just learning about guest relations and hunting techniques and methods. Most of the things learned in the field are not taught at a PH academy.
A few years ago, I had a conversation with Mike Englezakis, popularly known as Uncle Mike. He said to me, “It is good to see PDIs coming into the industry but be prepared to fail because that is going to happen. You are going to fail, but how you deal with your failures is what will determine your fate in this industry.” Uncle Mike continued to say, “Even with us (white farmers) when we started back in the day, we did not know what we were doing, but our will to go back and learn from our mistakes and correct them is what put us where we are today.”
Once a PH (professional hunter) has learned about guest relations and conducting hunts, the next phases should be the admin, the legal and the marketing side of the business if they desire to become hunting outfitters. A loophole in a contract can cost you a lot of money in a lawsuit, and poor service can cost you future business. We live in an era where information gets distributed faster and wider.
Learning does not end here – only people who can prove competence in what was just mentioned above should be allocated farms for transformation purposes. Transformation is driven by a strong will to change the status quo, and one should not expect it to happen without resistance from those who want to protect their turf due to their misdirected fear of the unknown. In an effort to push back, new policies will be introduced to delay the process, and new organisations will be formed to amplify the noise of those who want to push back.
However, as a country, we should also remember that transformation is not an overnight event but a long, slow process that requires a strong will and small, carefully taken steps and decisions. A strong will ensures failures are not seen as distractions but opportunities for learning. We must all be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them for us to grow. The first step towards learning is owning up to mistakes.
A few years ago, I was on a hunt with an international client. I put him on a wrong animal, and I faced the music back at the camp from experienced PHs, with others wanting me gone immediately. I had seen many of them make similar mistakes but not receiving the kind of reprimand I got. This to me was a blessing in disguise; it did not break me down but fuelled me to correct my shortfalls because quitting is not an option – my will does not agree. I owned up to my mistakes and I moved on; I wasn’t going to sit in a corner and sulk.
South Africa needs all role-players on board and everyone must work together towards a shared vision by drafting and implementing new progressive and enabling policies. Current limitations must be highlighted, and change must be carefully managed to help people adapt.
Government must encourage every farmer that is willing to take on PDIs and develop them not into loyal employees but future businesspeople. The private sector must be willing to share knowledge with candidates and not be biased and afraid of change. Candidates must not think this is a get-rich-quick scheme and must be willing to face the tough and gruelling realities of this industry.
True transformation also requires strong leadership, accountability, patience and a strong will to make tough choices.
