Zambia: Poaching is threatening tourism industry

RAMPANT poaching is threatening the declaration of tourism as an economic sector, Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA public relations officer Maureen Mwape has observed

Mwape yesterday said ZAWA was worried about the increase in poaching activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park's Game Management Area (GMA) of Chinyunyu in Chongwe district. "If we are not careful animals will be depleted and since tourism is mainly wildlife based, the government's declaration of the sector from a social one to an economic sector will be adversely affected," Mwape said. "And all efforts of enhancing and promoting the tourism sector will not be attained unless poaching is controlled and we appeal to the government and other stakeholders to help since ZAWA lacks resources to adequately patrol the protective areas."

And Mwape said ZAWA over the weekend confiscated 91 kilograms of game meat from six suspected poachers in Chinyunyu area. She said the suspects who included four females and two males were arrested at a roadblock mounted by ZAWA officers when they were found with suitcases and sacks containing meat. The confiscated bundles comprised meat from baboons, impala, common tiger (impombo), warthog and hyenas. "We have six suspects in our custody at Masamba police in Chilanga and we are just processing the documents so that they appear in court tomorrow (Friday) and we also impounded the bus they were travelling in," Mwape said.