In an interview with Monitor, Rapelang Mojaphoko, Coordinator of Research and Development in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism said that recently, the TFCA membership's ministers of environment including Kitso Mokaila attended the Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Ministers Committee Meeting on November 5, in Katima Mulilo, Namibia. She said the meeting was attended by the Ministers of Environment for all the five participating countries, namely: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The purpose of the meeting was to review progress made in the development of the KAZA-TFCA initiative since their last meeting of July 2009 in Cabinda, Angola.

According to the TFCA Memorandum of Understanding's articles three and four, Member States shall, in consultation with stakeholders, jointly establish the KAZA (Kavango Zambezi) Trans-frontier Conservation Area, which will include the Angola's The Luiana Partial Reserve and Mavinga Partial Reserve, Botswana's Okavango Delta (including the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe river, Makgadikgadi - Nxai pans game parks and major conservation areas located in the other member states.

"In defining the geographical areas for inclusion in the TFCA as outlined above, it is understood that this does not preclude the later inclusion and or exclusion of additional areas into one of the TFCAs, provided that such amendments shall be done by mutual consent of the Member States and in keeping with the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding," reads article four in part.

The ministers' meeting, held in Namibia, hailed the progress made by the German government, SADC and the Botswana government on behalf of the member states, in signing the Financing and Project Agreement to the tune of Û8 million to support the KAZA TFCA funds.

In a joint communiquŽ released after the meeting, the ministers note the progress made in the identification of suitable candidates to fill the various positions of the KAZA TFCA Secretariat.

"We further wish to thank the Peace Parks Foundation for facilitating the implementation of the integrated Development Plan in Zambia, as well as the progress with the development of similar plans in Angola and Zimbabwe during the course of 2009.  We look forward to their assistance in facilitating the same grassroots consultative processes in Botswana and Namibia in 2010,"reads the statement in part.

The ministers have appealed to the international community to assist the KAZA TFCA in the mobilisation and provision of resources to support the de-mining process in the Angolan component of the TFCA.

"We welcome the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations by Angola and the FIFA World Cup by South Africa in 2010 and their significance in promoting and developing tourism in the KAZA TFCA and SADC region at large," reads the ministers' statement.

The next KAZA TFCA environment ministers' meeting will be held in June 2010, in Zambia.