The drama surrounding last year’s killing of Cecil the lion has affected Zimbabwe's current hunting season, say operators.

Langton Masunda, who operates a game ranch in the Matabeleland North area, Lupane, says the 2016 season, which is nearing its end, has been "fairly bad". He says the hunting sector is still paying for the after-effects of Cecil and the negative perceptions it created.

He is, however, optimistic that the country will be able to overcome its present challenges.

According to another operator in the Shangani area who declined to be named, the game reserve has not received any hunters so far. "We usually host hunters from different international markets but this hunting season has been a quiet one for us."