Zambia and Kenya will, with support from the Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) enter into a staff exchange programme under which staff from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will interact to enhance quality wildlife management in their countries.
Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala who is in Kenya to gather first hand information on how Kenya manages its wildlife resources and how tourism development has been boosted to become the major economic engine for the east African nation, says, Zambia has a lot to learn from that country.
Tourism in Kenya contributes 15 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, earning the country an average of US$1 billion per annum.
Ms. Namugala toured offices of KWS and was later taken on a walking Safari of the institution’s animal sanctuary with species ranging from lions to monkeys among others.
She said her visit would strengthen collaboration in wildlife management and tourism between Zambia and Kenya. She also said Zambia stood to benefit more from Kenya’s model of wildlife management and tourism development.
Ms. Namugala was also impressed with the air wing department of KWS which gives air support services to wildlife management.
The Minister who was accompanied by her Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso and Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Christine Lambert also had an aerial view of one of Africa’s leading city Parks – the Nairobi National Park.
The Park, dubbed Kenya’s Wildlife Shop Window, has contributed greatly to promotion of domestic tourism. It was learnt that, of the two million annual tourist arrivals, 57 percent are local people.
While in Kenya the Minister will tour selected National Parks and pick up lessons on wildlife policy and legislation. The Zambian delegation will also learn how tourism concessions in Kenya have been standardized in addition to best corporate management systems in wildlife and tourism circles.
The Minister’s entourage will also be taken to community conservancies outside Nairobi to see how ordinary people were working with government in conservation of animal resources.
KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich said he was confident that, Kenya would by 2013 become the World leader in wildlife Conservation resulting in a robust tourism sector.
Africa Wildlife Foundation President Dr. Hellen Gichohi assured Ms. Namugla of her organization’s assistance in wildlife management.
Ms Namugala is later expected to visit Arusha, Tanzania, on a similar mission.
ZANIS
Good initiative.
Good move.Kenyans have managed well their wildlife.Next should be the staff at ZNTB so tthat they can also get some hints on how kenyans have managed to market their tourism worldwide and made kenya one of the most known and noticed counteries in africa.
This is a good Idea , i suppose there is no harm in learning from them and also teaching them some few things or so. Well done.
This is good but the problem with Kenya is they’ll learn a lot more than is intended. After all in Africa and probably the world, Kenya is number 3 after Bangladesh and Nigeria. You know what I mean.
can we also exchange RB for some young politician from Kenya!!
#5 Jamaco, whats up with all these flags you are changing every day of the week like women change cloths, what up mani.
We also dont want the kind of mass tourism you see in Kenya. We should concentrate on attracting high spending tourists in fewer numbers and promote local mass tourism. Am not sure what the Kenyans will tell the minister as we are potential competitors for those who want to go on safari. However, I must say that lately, Zambia’s tourism profile has risen. Many international publications now feature Zambian tourist facilities.
Instead of hosting the All Africa Games, twala chingyanya ama nama nama! Lets be serious!
“Come into my web,” the spider said to the fly.
I wonder what animal we would get in exchange for Tetamashimba! He should be the first to be exchanged.
Is the heading of the report correct? Without reading the story one would think animals are to be exchanged, like e.g. Zambian Cobra’s for Kenyan Tigers.
#11 , or Zambia’s Teta for Kenya’s elephant!