Botswana joins Kavango-Zambezi conservation area
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
Botswana and four southern African countries have resolved to sign a treaty formalising the establishment of the Kavango Zambezi Conservation Area Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) in August next year.
At a meeting hosted by Namibia recently, the countries developed a draft treaty, which provides the basis for national consultations with stakeholders. Besides Namibia and Botswana other countries in the venture are Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. At the Namibia meeting, Botswana was represented by Wildlife and Environment Minister Kitso Mokaila. Ministers responsible for Environment, Wildlife, Tourism and Natural Resources in Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe form the steering committee of the project. A communiquŽ released after the meeting said that regional body SADC and the governments of Botswana and Germany have signed a Financing and Project Agreement for Û8 million to support the KAZA-TFCA.
It added that the Peace Parks Foundation has already facilitated the implementation of the integrated development plan in Zambia. The next meeting of the steering committee will be held in June next year in Zambia.
