(left) and ZAWA senior Warden Lucizi Mwale (right) pose for a photo
with a head of a buffalo inside the Authority’s pavilion yesterday
during the ongoing eighth Southern Tourism, Agricultural and
Commercial Show Society (STACSS) in Livingstone
The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has with immediate effect dissolved all Community Resource Boards (CRBs) to pave way for new elections.
ZAWA Spokesperson Mwila Readith Muliyunda announced this in a statement adding that the dissolution contained in the government gazette notice no. 545 of 2014, which was released last Friday, is meant to improve operations of CRBs to ensure that they become more responsible in their participation and management of wildlife resources in line with the Wildlife Act.
Elections to reconstitute the CRBs will be conducted by ZAWA in collaboration with District councils, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and local civil servants forming part of the electoral committee.
The elections will be held between September 15 and November15, 2014.
In accordance with the Zambia Wildlife Act, ZAWA works with 74 CRBs in the Game Management Areas (GMAs) and open areas countrywide, based on the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) model. The CBNRM model provides policy direction on how communities in wildlife areas should be engaged in the management of wildlife and ZAWA committed to the effective implementation of this model.
There is currently an arrangement in place where revenues are equally shared between ZAWA and the communities at a 50 per cent basis. And guidelines have been formulated to ensure that the funds given to CRBs are properly administered and accounted for.
There is however need to ensure that there is significant impact on the economic development of these communities. To ensure this, there are reforms in the CBNRM to among other things, equip CRBs with the necessary capacity to properly administer these funds.
The CRBs will also be held accountable by households through Village Action Groups (VAG) from where they are elected.
Some of these funds will be directed towards the development of wildlife and conservation infrastructure and other developmental projects, as opposed to previously where the money was spent to subsidise other sectors.
ZAWA was in the end subsidising other institutions, at the expense of wildlife infrastructure such as campsites for village scouts and wildlife training facilities for the local community.
taking the easy way out ba zawa. after failing to pay them ati dissolved. smh
Man! This is HARD to chew. Is that how a Buffalo looks? I must go back to Nursery maybe Adam changed the syllabus and renamed everything. Wonder a woman is now called??
Things have really changed, even buffalos have now changed face.
We should also change mwee.
I totally support this reality check. Spending CRBs funds on developing of wildlife and conservation infrastructure and other developmental projects, as opposed to subsidizing other sectors, like Education, Health and Agriculture is the way to go. This is long overdue policy paradigm shift. let those funds be used to motivate the village scouts by buying them combat uniforms, boots, utensils and camping facilities such as tents, including patrol vehicles.
You are posing beside a stuffed yet there is a ban on trophy hunting big cats … what message are you sending?