Rural Zambians Accuse British Celebrities of Dangerous Virtue Signalling by Joining Anti-Hunting Campaigns
Rural Zambian communities have a message for anti-hunting celebrities such as Ricky Gervais and Ozzy Osbourne who support the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting through t-shirt sales: “T-shirts don’t save wildlife. Communities do.” On 10 December 2024, over 200 delegates at the 8th National Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Conference in Lusaka, Zambia wore t-shirts with powerful slogans, including “Fame does not make you an expert on wildlife!”
The protest rally highlighted the communities’ growing frustration with celebrity-backed campaigns to ban the importation of hunting trophies into the UK. Communities insist that decisions about hunting must be made by those who live alongside wildlife, summarised in their slogan: “Our rights. Our wildlife. Our decision.”
The Zambians’ message also targeted UK policymakers, who have largely ignored scientific evidence showing that banning hunting trophy imports may cause more harm than good. Despite appeals from African High Commissioners, including Zambia’s, to prioritise local perspectives, UK politicians have continued to favour celebrity-led campaigns.
“As Zambians, we support wildlife and we support trophy hunting. No one will make a decision for us!” said Petros Muyunda, Community Coordinator of Kakumbi Community Resource Board.
Dr Rodgers Lubilo, Chairman of both the Community Leaders Network of Southern Africa and the Zambian Community Resource Board Association, described the proposed anti-hunting legislation as a direct threat to community-led conservation efforts. “If this discussion ignores the realities on the ground, it could have devastating impacts on communities that depend on sustainable wildlife management for their livelihoods.”
The Lusaka protest follows similar demonstrations held in Botswana and Zimbabwe, where rural communities continue to fight for their voices to be heard in international conservation debates.
The CIC (International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation) supported this important event, with Bupe Banda, Chair of the CIC Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Working Group, in attendance. Bupe’s presence underscored CIC’s commitment to amplifying community voices and advocating for equitable, sustainable conservation solutions.
Additional Media Information:
Video Link: https://youtu.be/IOrH3wIU06E
Photo Credits: Elias Chulu
Media Contacts:
Gail Potgieter
gail.potgieter@resourceafrica.net
+264 81 867 1518
Tristan Breijer
tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
+44 781 408 7423
About the Community Leaders Network (CLN):
CLN is a collaborative grouping of rural representatives from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Their mission is to amplify the voices of local communities in managing and benefiting from their natural resources.
