ZAWA plans to curb human-wildlife conflict
By NKOMBO KACHEMBA.

ZAMBIA continues to witness a high incidence of human-wildlife conflicts as recent reports indicate that plans are afoot to curb the escalating trend.

Reports indicate that wildlife species invade people’s fields causing destruction to crops.

The majority of people who live near game parks have raised concern on the negative impact that human -wildlife conflicts have caused.

A recent visit to North-Luangwa national park revealed rather sad development where elephants cause destruction to other people’s maize field.

In Eastern, Western and Southern provinces, human -wildlife conflict is also rife due to the increase in the number of people living near game reserves.

With these conflicts, people’s lives have been endangered; this could be evidenced in the number of deaths that have been recorded recently.

Also, different animal species have been declared extinct due to poaching, an illegal activity usually done by people who live near game reserve areas.

To help curb human –wildlife conflict, the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), launched the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the Zambian component of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) in Sioma, Western province.

The KAZA TFCA is a multi-objective initiative involving parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The newly launched IDP focuses on reducing human wildlife conflict as well as mitigating its impact.

It will also create and develop alternative livelihoods based on wildlife and natural resources and at the same time assist in land use planning.

Officiating at the launch of the IDP in Sioma, Ministry of Tourism Environment and Natural Resources minister Michael Kaingu said the IDP was a good initiative in that it reflects the voice of the people living in the KAZA TFCA.

Mr Kaingu also said the initiative would help Government come up with a clear plan for the development of the KAZA TFCA in line with the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).

“Tourism and wildlife conservation feature strongly in the FNDP, this plan will strongly help us in the attainment of the social, economic and environmental goals set by the Government,†the minister said.

Mr Kaingu noted that unlocking the tourism potential of the KAZA TFCA can only be achieved with the commitment and involvement of the private sector.

The minister said it was impressive to see tour operators actively involved in the KAZA study as well as participating in the development of the IDP.

He however said that local communities have been experiencing difficulties coping with the human wildlife conflict for a longer period.

The minister said it was impressive to learn that the IDP recommends measures aimed at reducing the impact of the conflict through the establishment of the strategic plan.

He said Western Province was the least developed area with high levels of poverty and that hopefully, with the intervention programmes in the IDP, the situation might improve.

“The western part of Zambia has abundant natural resources, beautiful landscapes, magnificent rivers, wildlife and a strong culture, this is the reason why its resources must be fully exploited and conserved through the IDP,†the minister said.

Mr Kaingu added that the KAZA TFCA constituted the largest conservation area in the world of which Zambia was proud to be a part.

He said his ministry will lobby for full support from other relevant Government ministries in ensuring that Zambia’s conservation initiative were aligned with those of other neighbouring countries.

And Mr Kaingu said Government was concerned with the needs of the private sector and that this could be seen with the development of the block concession policy.

The minister said the policy aims at providing large blocks of land to investors for the purpose of establishing more tourism ventures in the country.

He said the block concessions would be planned to allow for maximum diversity of landscapes and vegetation types thus increasing a variety of tourism ventures.

Speaking at the same occasion, ZAWA director general doctor Lewis Saiwana said the formulation of the IDP represented a new approach to wildlife conservation and planning within Zambia and in the southern region.

Dr Saiwana said the approach of developing the IDP was based on a people centred wildlife management and that it had the people’s voice.

“By giving the people the voice, through the consultative and the participatory planning process, ZAWA can easily inform the Government on the needs and expectations of people who host wildlife and natural resources within the KAZA TFCA,†he said.

The director general explained that ZAWA endeavoured to align the planning of the IDP within the spheres of the Zambian Government by working closely with relevant authorities and in line with the FNDP.

He said the IDP would help reduce human wildlife contact through the construction of restraining lines, enclosing of villages and putting of chili fences in areas affected.

Dr Saiwana also said the plan would help provide alternative livelihood such as hunting, tourism, bee-keeping, aquaculture, venison production and live sales to the people.

“The IDP will also help in land use planning, this includes specialised land use zoning, planning and demarcations. This approach to land use planning has already been undertaken in Simalaha floodplains, the Ngonye falls and Silolo area in Western province,†he said.

Dr Saiwana also said that six block concessions have been identified in the Sioma Ngwezi national park in western province.

Meanwhile Shangombo district commissioner Masheke Kabayo said the development of the IDP would help reduce crop destruction by animals in the district.

Mr Kabayo added that the plan would also help the area market and conserve some of its untapped natural resources that the area had.

“Shangombo is one of the poorest districts in Zambia, with the development of the IDP, natural resources might be exposed and more tourists would be visiting this place. With more tourists visiting this place, high poverty levels may reduce,†he said.

Mr Kabayo said stakeholders implementing the project must consider the needs of the local people before any other interests.

In December, 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia in the Victoria falls for the establishment of the KAZA TFCA.

To this effect, the Zambian Government has committed itself in ensuring that wildlife and people’s livelihood are protected.

Zambia’s commitment resulted in the preparation of the Integrated Development Plan facilitated by ZAWA.
In the initial stage, a consultative meeting was held with stakeholders, tour operators, private investors, community trusts, traditional leaders and the relevant Government institutions.

In the plan, three national parks were included and these are the Kafue National Park, the Musi-o-Tunya national in Livingstone and the Sioma Ngwezi National Park in Western province.

With all these efforts in place, it is envisaged that human wildlife conflict in these areas would be reduced.