African Parks Invests $34m in Kafue National Park Growth
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening conservation partnerships as a key strategy for promoting sustainable tourism and driving economic diversification.
Speaking during a high-level stakeholder meeting on conservation, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Rodney M. Sikumba, MP, emphasised the importance of collaborative management partnerships between Government and the private sector, particularly with African Parks, in safeguarding the country’s protected areas.
The meeting forms part of ongoing engagements under the co-management framework between the Ministry of Tourism and African Parks, which covers Kafue National Park, Liuwa Plain National Park, and the Bangweulu Wetlands.
Honourable Sikumba noted that since 2021, Government has made notable progress in repositioning the tourism sector through policy reforms, removal of regulatory barriers, and the introduction of targeted incentives aimed at increasing private sector participation.
“Tourism remains a key pillar in Zambia’s economic diversification agenda as outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan. Strategic partnerships such as the one we have with African Parks are critical in ensuring sustainable management of our natural resources while unlocking economic opportunities,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the success of the collaborative model, particularly in Kafue National Park, where African Parks had initially committed to invest US$20 million over a 20-year period but has already exceeded this by investing more than US$34 million within five years.
He further underscored Government’s commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges, especially in road and air transport, to unlock the full tourism potential across Zambia’s key circuits.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Evans Muhanga, reiterated Government’s focus on ensuring that conservation efforts deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
“Our focus is to ensure that conservation is inclusive and beneficial to the people living within and around these ecosystems. We are promoting a shift from traditional corporate social responsibility to more sustainable models that include community equity participation, local content development, and revenue sharing,” he said.
Mr Muhanga also stressed the importance of predictable financing and strong collaboration among stakeholders to sustain conservation gains.
African Parks Chief Operating Officer, Mr Charles Wells, commended the Zambian Government for its leadership and commitment to conservation partnerships, noting that Zambia has become a model for effective conservation management.
“Zambia has demonstrated that with the right partnerships, long-term vision and community involvement, conservation can deliver both ecological and economic value. Our continued investment reflects our confidence in Zambia’s conservation model and the shared commitment to protecting these globally significant ecosystems,” he said.
The Government also acknowledged the longstanding contribution of African Parks, whose partnership model first implemented in Liuwa Plain National Park in 2003 and later expanded to the Bangweulu Wetlands has become a benchmark for conservation success in the country.
Looking ahead, Honourable Sikumba said Government plans to expand similar partnerships to other protected areas, including Lavushi Manda National Park, and is encouraging the establishment of a Conservation Partners Association to strengthen coordination among stakeholders.
