A new long term agreement has been concluded for the management of the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia. The contract was signed by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), African Parks and the six Community Resource Boards that make up the Bangweulu Game Management Area.
The signing ceremony took place in Lusaka on 15 October and was presided over by Mrs Jean Kapata, the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Arts; Two Deputy Ministers; the Permanent Secretary; their Royal Highnesses Senior Chief Kopa, Chief Nsamba, Chief Kabinga, Chief Bwalyamponda, Chief Chitambo and a representative of Chief Chiundaponde; and members of the Bangweulu Wetlands Board.
The Bangweulu Wetlands are situated in the upper Congo River Basin in north-eastern Zambia comprising the Bangweulu Game Management Area (GMA) and encompassing the territories of six Chiefdoms. The land is community-owned and held in trust by the Chiefs.
The conclusion of the new legal accord represents a collective desire to enable the Wetlands to realise its conservation, tourism and economic potential to the benefit of the communities living in and around it. The new management contract also provides clarity on previously outstanding matters such as the setting of quotas and the collection and distribution of revenue derived from hunting licenses and fees.