ZAWA Support

Zambia Wildlife Authority

The Zambia Wildlife Authority is the legal entity that is responsible for the management and administration of the National Parks and Game Management Areas in Zambia.

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)

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”. 

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.

One Area Warden has the responsibility to protect the wildlife, the habitat and the communities in this area and Government resources are simply not available to allow him to do this effectively.

Conservation Lower Zambezi can assist with some of that workload by the provision of logistical support and the subsidy of costs to run effective anti-poaching patrols in the key areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park and its surrounding Game Management Areas.

For more information please visit www.zawa.org.zm

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