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Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) |
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Since 1991, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (“GRZ” or “the
Government”) has been implementing a wide range of social and economic
reforms aimed at establishing a market oriented economic system. These
reforms have covered all the sectors of the economy, including the tourism
sector. In line with these reforms, on 1 November 1999 the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Services (“NPWS”), through an Act of Parliament, was replaced by an autonomous organization, Zambia Wildlife Authority (“ZAWA” |
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Although not intended, this transition resulted in a substantial reduction in government funds made available for the protection and conservation of wildlife. In an attempt to reduce administrative overheads and in order for ZAWA to gain more efficiency the Act stipulated a downsizing to approximately half the size of NPWS. Unfortunately, primarily due to the general decline of the Zambian economy this organizational restructuring led to a severe reduction in law enforcement patrols in all the national parks of Zambia, including the Lower Zambezi National Park, thereby placing additional stress on the already fragile environment and creating a growing dependence on the resources of organizations such as ”Conservation Lower Zambezi”.
Consequently, this problematic transition period has proven to be a
serious challenge for the Zambian environment and is expected to continue
for years to come. |
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At no time since its establishment has ZAWA received the allocations necessary for the institution to become self-sustainable as foreseen in the Act according to which ZAWA would generate income from among other safari hunting.
In January 2001, the
former President of the Republic of Zambia introduced a one year total ban
on hunting thereby effectively reducing the possibilities for ZAWA to
protect and manage the national parks and GMA’s much less to establish
or continue effort to develop these areas. ZAWA’s Lower Zambezi Management Unit, consisting of a Warden, Operations Rangers and Wildlife Police Officers, is responsible for the administration and protection of the LZNP and surrounding GMA’s covering more than 12,000 square miles including the Chiawa GMA to the West, the Rufunsa GMA to the East and the Luano GMA to the North. The Lower Zambezi Management Unit, currently totalling 112 officers including the administrative staff, only has one vehicle available to protect this area. |
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