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KAZA TFCA critical to regional development

Hon. Lawrence Sampofu, Governor of the Caprivi Region, Chief Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional Authority, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Uahekua Herunga and His Excellency Onno Huckmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, handing over equipment to the conservancies and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism staff. The equipment  will be used during anti-poaching patrols.(Photograph by Hilma Hashange)

Hon. Lawrence Sampofu, Governor of the Caprivi Region, Chief Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional Authority, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Uahekua Herunga and His Excellency Onno Huckmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, handing over equipment to the conservancies and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism staff. The equipment will be used during anti-poaching patrols.(Photograph by Hilma Hashange)

The completed Namibian component of the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) plays a major role in the transboundary movement of wildlife and fisheries management in the north eastern regions.
KAZA TFCA was formed in 2011 to establish a world-class Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) and tourism destination in the Kavango and Zambezi River Basin regions of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe within the context of sustainable development.
Recently, the Namibian component of KAZA TFCA was completed and its five year Integrated Development Plan for the period 2013 to 2017 was launched by Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon Uahekua Herunga in the Caprivi Region. The plan provides the management framework and priority projects for the Namibian component of KAZA TFCA based on the country’s Vision 2030, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s vision for its protected areas and wildlife conservation and that of communities.
The Namibian component summarises the needs and expectations of the country’s shareholders and forms the basis of the support that government will provide through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as lead agency. According to Minister Herunga, the Namibian North East Parks are situated in the heart of KAZA TFCA and will serve as a reference for detailed conservation planning initiatives for conservation and communal areas, hence planning is important at both local and regional level.
Activities implemented in the country include the construction of 20 elephant protection walls around community water wells west of Khaudum National Park, procurement of five motor vehicles for protected area management and Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) as well as the procurement of 52 bicycles, 20 camping tents and five fridges to promote effective management of conservancies.
KAZA TFCA also financially supported 18 conservancies at a cost of N$ 108 000 towards implementation of Human Wildlife Conflict self insurance scheme as well as the establishment of five chili production plots for the Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Programme in the Caprivi Region.

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