Zambia Launches Bold 10-Year Plan to Transform Kafue National Park
The Ministry of Tourism has officially launched the Kafue National Park General Management Plan 2025–2035, setting in motion a transformative strategy aimed at conserving biodiversity, promoting inclusive tourism, and uplifting surrounding communities.
Unveiled by Honourable Rodney Sikumba, MP and Minister of Tourism, the 10-year plan is a joint initiative between the Zambian government and African Parks, implemented under the public-private partnership entity Greater Kafue Landscape Limited (GKLL).
The launch event was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, civil society, and development partners.
Describing the plan as a “roadmap for sustainable management,” Minister Sikumba emphasized its role in aligning Kafue National Park with global tourism and conservation standards. Spanning over 22,400 square kilometres, Kafue is Zambia’s oldest and largest national park, known for its diverse wildlife, including 199 mammal and 493 bird species.
“This plan ensures that Kafue National Park remains ecologically resilient while becoming a catalyst for economic empowerment,” said Minister Sikumba, highlighting its collaborative development and alignment with President Hakainde Hichilema’s inclusive development agenda.
The plan zones the park into six areas for tourism, conservation, research, and community use. It also addresses critical threats such as habitat degradation, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal wildlife trade, with targeted solutions backed by a US$24.1 million investment in the first two years under a Strategic Investment Management Action Plan (SIMAPB).
Mr. Craig Reid, Park Manager for African Parks, hailed the plan as “a major turning point” for Zambia’s conservation efforts, emphasizing its clarity and long-term vision.
Representing traditional leaders, Chief Mulendema of Mumbwa District pledged full support from the 15 surrounding chiefdoms, calling Kafue a “heritage asset” and urging continued community engagement and benefit-sharing.
Over 220,000 people living in adjacent Game Management Areas are expected to benefit through job creation, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive tourism investment opportunities. The Government reiterated its focus on empowering indigenous Zambian entrepreneurs within the tourism value chain.
The Kafue National Park General Management Plan marks a new chapter in Zambia’s environmental stewardship—positioning the park as a globally significant conservation landscape and a driver of sustainable national development.
