ZANIS Berlin COPY (3) –Masebo appeals for Germany-ZAWA SOS

1
Banner 3
Banner 3

Masebo appeals for Germany-ZAWA SOS

From Charles Mangwato in Berlin, Germany

Berlin, (Germany), March 11, 2013, ZANIS—Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has asked for financial and technical assistance from the Germany government in resolving operational problems currently facing the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).

Ms Masebo says unless ZAWA is urgently assisted, the survival of the institution is seriously threatened due to insurmountable operational challenges.

Ms Masebo was speaking in Berlin, Germany today during a high level meeting with Germany government development funding agencies.

“ZAWA is ‘bleeding’ and we urgently need donor assistance to sort out operational challenges at the institution,” she told Thomas Wollenzien, Director for KFW Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.

The minister said the lack of institutional capacity resulting from financial challenges makes it impossible for ZAWA to adequately execute its mandate of looking after wildlife on behalf of the Zambian people.

“ZAWA has no equipment let alone adequate staffing levels. We have been trying to find solutions to these problems but it is difficult, hence our decision to turn to Germany for help.”

Ms Masebo said a study is needed to be undertaken to determine what really is causing the current problems at ZAWA.

“When you talk to the ZAWA workers, they cry that they want to be taken back to government which they said was able to adequately provide for them,” she said.

Ms Masebo said her ministry was currently in a dilemma as to how to proceed over the issue of ZAWA.

She said since the Germany government is already supporting Zambia under the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) project, adding that it would also be prudent to extend this support to ZAWA.

She said this was because it would still be ZAWA that would manage the wildlife aspect under the KAZA programme.

“So if ZAWA is not capacitated, I don’t see how the institution will implement the KAZA programme,” she said.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY