Ministry of Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Reverend Howard Sikwela says his Ministry targets to open more than 10 community game ranches in various Chiefdoms this year.
Speaking in Mpongwe when he concluded his visit to Copperbelt Province, Reverend Sikwela described the response by chiefs on the Copperbelt Province to the idea of introduction of game ranching as tremendous.
The Permanent Secretary said most of the chiefs believed the initiative is good and should have been introduced a long time ago.He said there is need to sensitize and empower as many communities as possible and this would be achieved through the government under President Edgar Lungu.
Reverend Sikwela said the various benefits would include community development in the Chiefdoms.
Among the Chiefs visited were Chieftaines Shimukunami of Lufwanyama, Chief Lumpuma of Lufwanyama, Senior Chief Chiwala Chiefdom of Masaiti and Chieftaines Malembeka of Mpongwe.
He said the program to introduce game ranches is meant to empower Chiefdoms with their own wildlife resources and reduce pressure of demand for special licenses during traditional ceremonies.
This is according to a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe.
“He said the program to introduce game ranches is meant to empower Chiefdoms with their own wildlife resources and reduce pressure of demand for special licenses during traditional ceremonies”.
Are we implying we are establishing kraals for relish??????
Lazy chiefs. Keep cattle, sheep and goats like southern and Eastern chiefs who don’t care about wild animals. Leave wild animals alone. Where these Chiefdoms sit, there were all sorts of wild animals including the forbidden Lion. They finished them all.
Another dull idea by these empty tins …you think a ranch is just open bush who is going to protect the animals from poaching and you are the same morons who will be complaining about wild animals destroying crops. Who is this dull Reverend Howard Sikwela …they have these church titles yet they are the biggest thieves around.
The same chiefs will be the main culprits in poaching these animals saying it is their birthright as a chief of that area. Just look at chief mpezeni who is a number one poacher of animals under tradition which even ZAWA knows but government turns a blind eye just because they don’t want to get into a tussle with the chief being a paramount chief.
I read the strong arguments on Facebook: Department of National Parks & Wildlife on the Ministry of Tourism & Arts page. Extremely informative and educational and goes to show the Zambian government has no idea of what to do with our tourism sector. It’s embarrassing to have people with no education, training or skills hired to be minister and permanent secretary. These are the people making decisions on behalf of all Zambian’s. The only people benefiting and making money are these people and not the general public at large.
The Chiefs involved in this can’t be trusted.