TOURISM, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala has said Zambia will resubmit its proposal to the parties to the Convention in International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to enable Zambia trade in ivory.

In a ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday, Ms Namugala said Zambia would submit its proposal to the next conference of parties scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand in 2013.

During the last CITES in Doha, Qatar, held on March 13 to 25, Zambia had applied that the country's elephant population be down listed from appendix I to II so that the nation could be allowed to trade in ivory but the proposal was rejected.

"Zambia as a sovereign State still has the right to resubmit a proposal to the next conference of Parties 16 which is scheduled to take place in Thailand in 2013.

To increase the chances for favourable consideration of our resubmission, we plan to increase funding allocated to law enforcement in lower Zambezi National Park and to reduce the high level of illegal off takes," Ms Namugala said.

Through diplomatic channels with foreign missions, Zambia would engage regional groupings to support the intentions to down list the elephants.

The ministry would step up measures to monitor elephant population as well as controlling illegal trade.

Kenya, through some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was against Zambia's proposal.

Ms Namugala said this when she responded to questions from Chimbamilonga MP Brian Sikazwe (MMD) and Kankoyo MP Percy Chanda (PF) who wanted to know which countries and NGOs were against Zambia's bid.

She, however, said the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) region was behind Zambia's proposal.