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ZAWA to train its first Safari Tour Guides this month

Lusaka, September 3^RD, 2014, ZANIS —THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) says it  will this month train its first batch of 25 youths as Safari Tour Guides ( STGs)  specialized in Wildlife and other protected areas of the country.

ZAWA Communications and Public Relations Officer Mwila Readith Muliyunda says the skills training for STGs  will be at its Nyamaluma training institute in Lupande Game Management Area (GMA) in Eastern province.

Ms. Muliyunda says the training will run from September to December, 2014 adding that upon successful completion, another batch is expected to be recruited with the number to be increased from the initial 25 students.

ZANIS  reports that the ZAWA Communications and Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement in Lusaka today .

She stated that since the Authority is recognized and accredited under the Technical Education, Vocation and Entrepreneurship Authority (TEVETA), it  is pleasing that ZAWA was now offering the skill to those tour guides wishing to operate in protected areas.

She said this was aimed at guaranteeing safety, security and enriched local wildlife knowledge for tourists in National Parks and GMAs.

Ms. Muliyunda said ZAWA will also ensure that most of the resource persons that will be used in the tour guide training are drawn from the institution to ensure consistency.

She revealed that Graduates will also be encouraged to start their own tour guide firms to supplement government efforts to empower youths and create employment in wildlife communities, ultimately reducing poaching as youths will be ploughed back to conservation of the wildlife resources.