Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
AFRICAN Parks has said it will invest a minimum of US$4 million into Kafue National Park annually under a 20-year partnership with the Zambian Government for the management of the park.
Speaking during the launch of the conservation collaborative agreement between the ministry of tourism and African Parks Network Limited on the management of the Kafue National Park and support to the surrounding game management areas at Chunga headquarters, African Parks Chief Executive Officer, Peter Fearnhead said African Parks’ injection into Zambia on an annual basis will be between $11 and 12 million catering for Liuwa,Bangweula and Kafue national parks.
Mr Fearnhead said this is African Parks’ biggest commitment to any one country on the continent.
He adds that this will also bring the total number of jobs created across Liuwa,Bangweulu and Kafue national park in excess of 750.
Mr Fearnhead further disclosed that a budget of $7 million submitted by the park management for the first year of operations has already been approved.
He said that African Parks has under the agreement undertaken to relive government of all expenditure related to the park with salaries for law enforcement agencies alone saving government $800,000 a year.
He added that government will also keep 20% of all the revenue generated from the park with the remainder being ploughed back into the national park.
And officiating at the launch, Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba said the signing of the agreement signifies the important milestone in the conservation of wildlife and management of protected areas in Zambia.
Mr Sikumba said the 20-year project will ensure the development of the Kafue National Park,making it an excellent tourism destination, deliver meaningful benefits to local communities, contribute to economic growth at regional and national levels and support Zambia’s commitment to combating climate change.
