Lusaka, Zambia — Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia are ironing out the details of an environmental initiative that aims to share natural resources and their management in the underdeveloped trans boundary region linking the three countries.

The ZIMOZA trans boundary natural resources management initiative will see the participating regions of Luangwa in Zambia, Zumbo in Mozambique and Guruve in Zimbabwe combine efforts to develop the area by building schools, health centres, boreholes and other amenities.

They will also share responsibility for ensuring that hunting, fishing and bush burning are controlled in all three regions.

"This will allow harmony in the sharing of trans boundary natural resources," says Patrick Ngoma, MP for Luangwa in Zambezi.

The three participating districts have already formed local community based natural resource management committees to ensure that their districts get maximum benefit from the natural resources without interfering with their neighbours.

Ngoma said that while the Zambian government accepted the initiative as a good idea they needed to act quickly to catch up with the development taking place in the other two countries.

Ngoma complained that Zambian law prohibited the hunting of "problematic" animals like elephant and buffalo, whereas controlled hunting was allowed in the neighbouring countries, which benefited from the income generated.

The income is ploughed back into developing the local communities.