Wildlife resources have potential for socio-economic development in Africa: - Mnangagwa
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said here Monday that thriving wildlife resources had tremendous potential for sustainable socio-economic development for African countries.
Mnangagwa was addressing the opening ceremony of Africa's Wildlife Economy Summit sponsored by the African Union (AU) and the UN (United Nations) Environment Programme.
The event, designed to offer opportunities on how economies can leverage on wildlife resources, attracted several African heads of state.
They included Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Zambia President Edgar Lungu and Namibia President Hage Gottfried Geingob.
“Thriving wildlife resources have a tremendous potential to be instrumental in sustainable socio-economic development through associated wildlife-oriented businesses such as eco-tourism, hunting and photographic safaris, among other benefits.
“We must, therefore, continue to utilise platforms such as this one, to explore innovative ways to leverage wildlife resources to grow our economies; eradicate poverty; achieve broad based empowerment, create decent jobs, especially for women and youth. It is equally important to guarantee biodiversity within our ecosystems,” Mnangagwa said.
“To this end, achieving peaceful human-wildlife co-existence and sound conservation principles are a top priority to my government. The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources, which is a testimony of the need for more robust community-based natural resources management strategies, continue to be reinvigorated,” Mnangagwa continued.
According to government research, Zimbabwe's land area under protected area and wildlife production is approximately twenty-six percent of the total land size.
Mnangagwa said his government was promoting an integrated concept of conservancies which involved strong private sector participation.
“Conservancies have also become important partners in developing tourism activities and products in non-traditional tourism areas, thereby enhancing broad based empowerment,” he said.
Currently, Zimbabwe has about US$600million worth of ivory and rhino horns stocks, most of which come from the natural attrition of those animals.
“Proceeds obtained from hunting are reinvested towards the provision of game water, fencing and law enforcement, among other conservation initiatives. We continue to call for the free trade in hunting products as these have a positive impact on the national and local economies of our countries,” Mnangagwa said.
“If we are allowed to dispose the same under agreed parameters, the revenue derived therefrom would suffice to finance our operational conservation efforts for the next 20 years!” he stated.
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Priscah Mupfumira said the summit afforded the continent a unique opportunity for cross fertilisation of ideas in wildlife management.
“We also hope it can unite all stakeholders and diverse players in the wildlife sector. These range from political leadership, communities and the private sector who all need to join hands to come up with ideas and solutions designed to bring about sustainable socio-economic benefits to our people,” she said.
Heads of States and Cabinet ministers from at least 30 African countries registered to take part in the inaugural African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) Wildlife Economy Summit.
Close to 500 delegates from across the world are currently partaking in the summit which began last Sunday and ends on Tuesday.
-0- PANA TZ/RA 24June2019
