CHISHIMBA BWALYA
Liuwa
GOVERNMENT has assured African Parks (AP) that there would be “no problem whatsoever” in renewing their agreement to manage Liuwa Plain National Park.
The sentiments, through Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba, come as AP’s 20 years agreement to manage the national park comes to an end this year, with talks underway for an extension.
Speaking last week when he graced an event to commemorate the culmination of the agreement first signed in 2004, Mr Sikumba commended the wildlife non-governmental organisation for its efforts in raising the tourism profile of Liuwa since it was granted the facility.
“Now that we have clocked the first 20 years together, I do believe that we have no problem, whatsoever, to get into another arrangement that I strongly believe will be better and broader with respect to managing this particular resource that we have,” Mr Sikumba said.
He added: “The partnership between African Parks, Government and the BRE has not only helped us to manage this particular resource, but has also put the Liuwa National Park as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations.”
Mr Sikumba revealed that Government has been implementing some of the management strategies used in Liuwa in other national parks due to the success recorded over the years.
The minister also announced plans to implement infrastructural development in the park through a concessional loan from the World Bank.
The Litunga, whose speech was read by Ngambela Mukela Manyando, commended AP for ensuring that people live in harmony with wildlife.
He recalled that his decision to invite AP to help manage the national park received heavy criticism over 20 years ago.
“This good idea which we are celebrating today was called all sorts of names; alleging that he had sold the park.”
The Western Province-based wildlife facility has seen life role back over the last 20 years with game numbers recording significant increase.
The wildebeest population in particular has risen from 15,000 to 45,000, making Liuwa the second-largest destination of the species after Serengeti in Tanzania.
AP’s country director for Zambia James Milanzi said the most significant success of the organisation has been restoring the functioning ecosystem in the park which has allowed wildlife population to grow.
“The biggest success story here is restoring the functional ecosystem because without a functional ecosystem, if the waters are not flowing, if the animals are not thriving, then even tourism won’t be achieved,” he said.
Peter Fearnherd, who is the co-founder of AP, called for more deliberate efforts in ensuring the growth of the national park.
“The job of protecting a landscape is never done. Although the work that has passed is critical to where we find ourselves today, it is only the actions of the future that will determine whether Liuwa Plain survives into the future.
It requires the same vision of King Lewanika, and HM Lubosi Imwiko, coupled with the same action to ensure that Liuwa remains a core part of this world for many generations to come.”
