Source:commons.wikimedia.org
The ministers responsible for Environment, Wildlife, Natural Resources, Hotel and Tourism from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as SADC, German Development Bank (KFW) and Peace Park Foundation (PPF) representatives, met in Menongue, Angola on the 7th August 2013 to review progress on the development of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).
Mable Bolele, the National TFCA Coordinator in Research and Development Division said in a press statement that the meeting expressed satisfaction the progress made in the KAZA region since the last meeting held on the 15th November, 2012 in Livingstone, Zambia.
The Zambia meeting resolutions included amongst others: the effort of the Angolan government for determining of the Angolan component of the KAZA TFCA that allows the free movement of goods and people; the construction of basic infrastructure in the Angolan component of the KAZA TFCA; strengthening the KAZA TFCA secretariat by recruitment of additional personnel; drafting of Financial Sustainability Strategy; finalisation of country Integrated Development plans for Botswana and Namibia.
“Progress also achieved included electrification of Savuti Wildlife camp in Botswana; provision of law enforcement equipment for effective management of protected areas in Namibia and Zambia; construction of 20 Elephant Protection Walls around water points and provision of N$1.1 million to Conservancies in support of Human Wildlife Conflict Self Reliance in Namibia and establishment of Simalaha conservancy in Zambia,” Bolele said.
At the meeting, there was appreciation on the steps made towards the drafting of Hosting Agreement between KAZA TFCA and government of Botswana; development of the KAZA Master Integrated Development Plan; drafting of recommendations for Harmonisation of Natural Resources Management and Tourism Development Policies; training and absorption of Rangers in Luengue- Luiana National Park; near completion of tendering process for construction of staff houses at Pandamantenga wildlife camp in Botswana; on-going construction of the Sioma Ngwezi Park Headquarters and support to Conservation Agriculture around Sioma Ngwezi and development of Machenje community lodge in Zambia.
The ministers also acknowledged KAZA TFCA Secretariat’s collaboration with partners on mainstreaming of water, fisheries and forestry as enablers for securing trans-boundary wildlife corridors. They further acknowledged with appreciation the initiation of the development of the KAZA TFCA VISA with support from the World Bank to facilitate seamless travel of tourists across the KAZA landscape, raising the profile of KAZA TFCA through participation at the 2013 Berlin ITB in Germany, INDABA Tourism Fair in South Africa; FITUR Tourism in Spain; International Conference on African Tourism in Tunisia; production of KAZA TFCA promotional materials and development of a concept for production of KAZA TFCA Movie.
Ministers also noted and congratulated partner countries for ratification of the KAZA TFCA Treaty which provides and enabling platform for KAZA TFCA to be recognised as a legal entity. Ministers also extended their sincere gratitude to the German government for the continued financial support of the KAZA TFCA through KfW and the contribution of PPF as partners in the development of KAZA and the role they have played to date.
Before the meeting, the ministers had the privilege and honor to witness the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the KAZA National Office in Cuito Cuanavale in Angola. The next ministers’ meeting will be held in February 2014 in Namibia.
