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Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, has said that the tourism sector is important in driving economic transformation and job creation in Zambia.
Speaking at the National Stakeholder Validation Meeting for the Zambia Wildlife and Protected Area Bill 2024, Muhanga stressed that reviewing the Zambia Wildlife Act 2015 was essential to unlocking the economic potential of the wildlife sub-sector.
He highlighted that this review would benefit future generations and ensure the sustainable management of Zambia’s valuable wildlife resources.
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Muhanga added that it was crucial to update the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015 to address current and emerging issues in wildlife management.
The review aims to align the Act with the provisions of the Constitution, as amended by the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016, which addresses environmental management, natural resources, and decentralization.
He also noted the need to incorporate the National Decentralization Policy of 2013 and the National Parks and Wildlife Policy of 2018 while addressing gaps identified since the Act’s implementation.
Zambia’s protected area system, which includes 20 national parks, 36 game management areas, and two wildlife sanctuaries, covers about 31.4 percent of the country’s total surface area.
Muhanga underscored the importance of protecting and sustainably utilising these resources to maximize their contribution to national development.
“There is a need for adequate and relevant legislation to manage this crucial national asset,” Muhanga added.
He encouraged stakeholders to review the contents of the bill thoroughly before it advances to further stages of the legislative process.
“I expect that the deliberations from this meeting will enhance the draft bill,” he concluded.
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