British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane says the seizure of 32 kilogrammes of rhino horns at Chanida border post in Eastern province is an important development in the fight against poaching.
Mr. Cochrane says this is because Zambia is used as a transit point for smuggling of wildlife and government trophy.
He said this in Chipata City yesterday, when he paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province Permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo noting that the international community is interested in the case in which authorities seized the rhino horns believed to have been smuggled from a neighboring country.
He observed that though the horns are believed to have been smuggled from another country, such illegal activities are also happening in the country saying there is need to curb smuggling of government trophies.
The Envoy noted that animal tasks are an economic asset and stressed the need to protect wildlife for future generations as Zambia is still developing.
The British High Commissioner said that he would meet with wildlife conservation in South Luangwa and discuss the areas in which the British government can render aid in the preservation of wildlife.
Among the projects as One Stop centre for Gender based Violence (GBV) and the social Cash Transfer Scheme (SCT) for the vulnerable.
Mr. Cochrane is in Eastern Province to monitor projects that are sponsored by the British Government and explore investment opportunities for British investors.
And Mr. Kasolo cited mining, tourism and agriculture as some of the areas with economic potential in which British investors can exploit.
The Permanent Secretary said the region which is host to the one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the continent does not have adequate accommodation in Mfuwe.
He stated that there is need to invest in hotels and lodges and to fully exploit the tourism potential in the province.
Mr Kasolo stated that Government intends to expand Mfuwe international airport and that four companies have declared interest to partner with Government to construct an international airport in Chipata.
He also expressed concern about increased poaching activities and stressed the need to have game farms to safeguard animals.
“The Province is also endowed with minerals that have not been fully exploited. We have some of the best limestone in chief Msoro’s area though the road leading to the area is in a deplorable state. We also have gold in Vubwi, Lundazi and Petauke districts” He said.
Mr Kasolo however noted that there had been rampant illegal mining especially in chief Sandwe’s are in Petauke district where over 5,000 illegal miners are reported to be camping.
” the british high commissione said he would look at ways to provide aid for the preservation of wild life and those programs include one stop centre for gender base violence and social cash transfer scheme.
Are these reporters for real , link the topics and it is just pure rubbish being published
What Chinese investment has done is wipe away our wildlife. Our children will only see elephants in pictures….sad
Zambia needs sniffer dogs…Zambia would do with this technical assistance as her borders both air and land are too porous..any sniffer dog unit deployed would be a great deterrent to Chine poacher gangs
@jayjay Can you explain how Porous your so called AIR border is ? and what measures can Government take to reduce porosity
This guy ‘cockroach’ is now behaving like a new Police IG.