2 February 2008
Ndola — ZAMBIA Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has disbursed over K4 billion to 45 Community Resources Boards (CRB) for resource protection and community projects in Game Management Areas (GMAs).
ZAWA general director, Lewis Saiwana, said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the funds were delayed to be released because only 45 out of the 52 CRBs accounted for the money given to them in the past.
The money was for resource protection, local community projects and administration of the Community Natural Resources Management (CBNRM).
CRBs were required to account for the money they received and should able to show results on the ground on how the funds were used.
"ZAWA agrees that there was financial irregularities by CRBs. To address the matter, the authority withheld the disbursement of the 45 per cent share to all CRBs throughout Zambia," Dr Saiwana said.
He said after putting control mechanism, the funds were released and the authority trained unit leaders to maintain a link between CRBs and ZAWA.
40 CRBs complied and had since been paid K3.6 billion with chiefs who were patrons getting K531 million.
On floods, Dr Saiwana said the deluge was of great concern, especially in Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon national parks, where animals in particular the Kafue Lechwe have moved to higher grounds where there were human settlements.
The animals were mingling with people and domestic animals in villages however; the local people were well sensitised.
ZAWA signed a covenant with the local people in the GMAs like those in Senior Chief Shakumbila, Chief Hamusonde and Chief Choongo to co-manage wildlife resources.
On Block Tourism Concessioning, Dr Saiwana said the authority was zoning the national parks into large tracts of land on an extent of 15, 000 to up to 45 hectares.
The concessions will allow investors or developers exclusivity where the developer will have his lodge or hotel and clients will enjoy game viewing within his or her premises without competing with other operators.
Commenting on the move to grant Legacy Holding Zambia a go ahead with the development in the Musi-oa-Tunya Park, Dr Saiwana said the decision was arrived at after a full board meeting between ZAWA and the ministry of Environment and Tourism.
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