Friday, March 29, 2024

African Parks to spend K 1.2 million for chiefs’ official quarters in Kalabo’s Liuwa national park

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Africa Parks
Africa Parks

African Parks has handed over three institutional houses to local chiefs in Kalabo’s Liuwa national park.

The development is part of a community project to construct multipurpose houses to serve as residential and official quarters for all 10 local chiefs within Liuwa at a total cost of K1.2 million.

Kalabo District Administrative Officer (DAO) Siyupwa Kabisa graced the official handover of the houses on behalf of Kalabo District Commissioner Fridah Luhila at Mushuwa village in Salunda ward.

Mrs. Luhila said government was tirelessly working towards improving the welfare of chiefs despite facing challenges of limited resources.

She disclosed that traditional leaders were key partners in delivering most of the social services hence the need for them to have permanent institutional houses.

She further explained that this development will enable chiefs enhance community mobilization.

Mrs. Luhila named the beneficiaries as chiefs Kakuya of Luoke, Mundandwe of Mishulundu and Nalubutu of Mulinga chiefdoms.

She has since commended African Parks for the initiative to complement government efforts adding that wildlife conservation has turned Liuwa national park into a tourist destination.

Speaking at the same event, Acting District Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Officer Pelekelo Shwana said government appreciates the role of traditional leaders in advancing national development.

Meanwhile, Induna Ngela, who is also acting Muleta of Libonda royal palace, has thanked African Parks for embarking on the project saying each one of the remaining seven local chiefs will have a similar institutional house to operate from.

The traditional leader recalled that Liuwa is a historic sanctuary dating back from the times of King Lewanika in 1872.

He said the national park is an ecosystem endowed with bio-diversity of wildlife hence the need for parents to change the mindset their children towards conserving nature.

He noted that the area has abundant natural resources whose protection and sustainable utilization would enhance economic activities that will create wealth for national development.

Speaking earlier, African Parks Community Manager Walubita Sifuniso said the project to construct institutional houses for chiefs was aimed at paying back to the community for their commitment to support wildlife conservation.

Mr. Sifuniso has since implored communities in Liuwa to conserve wildlife in order to stimulate tourism related ventures.

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that took over Liuwa national park in 2003 to secure the area’s vast landscape, protect endangered species and restore wildlife in a bid to inculcate economic development, alleviate poverty and promote ecological sustenance among communities living there.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks to my chiefs in liuwa plain national park for embracing conservation of wild animals for a purpose. Kudos to AP, BRE and the government for leading the way.

    • What has the Gov of Zambia done it was all paid for by AP, typical govt pretending to be involved, it said AP spent K1.2 on 10 buildings for the chiefs, thats only $12,000 per building, cant be that flash very basic but i guess better that what they had.

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