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Tourism Minister, Jean Kapata says hunting fees for big cats have been increased.
Ms. Kapata has told parliament that this is in order to increase benefits from hunting.
In a ministerial statement presented in Parliament on Thursday, Ms. Kapata has explained that proceeds from the hunting of lions and other wild cats, will be shared between government and local communities.
Ms. Kapata has further explained that government decided to lift the ban on big cats because of the increase in their population and after putting in place of various control measures.
The Minister has however reiterated that the hunting of Leopards starts in the 2015-2016 hunting season, and that for lions starts in the 2016-2017 hunting season.
She has disclosed that the lion population is now estimated to be between 1500 and 2500 and while Leopards are about 4000.
She says Zambia is now being ranked number three in terms of the Lion population, after Tanzania and South Africa.
But Chongwe MP and former Tourism Minister, Sylvia Masebo, under whose reign, the ban was effected wants the ban to continue being in place.
However, Kasenengwa MP, Victoria Kalima has supported the lifting of the ban saying measures put in place and benefits to be derived such as increasing hunting fees have been well tabulated.
