Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela has warned management at Munda Wanga Sanctuary that he will be forced to close the park if they do not improve its operations in the third quarter of 2019.
Mr. Chitotela says it is unfortunate that there has been no development despite concerns expressed by President Edgar Lungu when he visited the facility earlier this year.
The Minister said this when he made an impromptu visit to the sanctuary and botanic garden in Chilanga.
Mr. Chitotela said transformation at Munda Wanga has potential to generate substantial amounts of income for the treasury if it is well stocked and managed.
Munda Wanga Sanctuary and Botanic Gardens has been well known as a home for ambassador wildlife species and rehabilitation center for injured animals or those recovered from pet traders.
This is according to a statement made available to ZNBC news by Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Tourism and Arts Sakabilo Kalembwe.
I think we should revisit the constitution and appoint Ministers from OUTSIDE parliament. This is not working. From dubious road contracts to closing Munda Wanga!?? Awe mwe!
I was a regular visitor to MW during 1975 to 77 while in high school. The curator then, Major Chanda, was an excellent conservationist and lived at the place with his family. I attended school with one of his sons, late Glory, was one who used to invite me to the place. In recent years I have been back there and have also noted the decline in standards.
For this one, I believe Chitotela has other motives for wanting to close down the place and it would not be far from the truth to suggest that it is for the minister’s own personal interests …
I will venture to stick my neck out a little here, @Nsimbi, and agree with you on not only the sentiments of personal interests but also that generally the culture of maintenance and care is absent in the Zambian psyche. You see beautiful mansions come up and within a very short time they are derelict and in ruinous disrepair. Solution is to squander the spoils (look at Reserve No. 27 or play parks converted into building plots).
Walasa Kalok. Just look at one loud example. Our roads. I grew up on the copperbelt and the roads were well maintained. We even had street lights. Just go there now and the roads have been eaten away and there are holes and drenches where they should be. How did this happen? Lack of maintenance and corruption
What is worse is noone seems concerned about this decline from the residents to their government. Its like this is normal. Its not
….then demarcate the whole thing into residential plots?
Close because management has failed? Why not advertise the positions of those that have failed and have competent people occupy those positions. Unless you are saying the voters are closing PF in 2021 because PF has failed when lot of us are considering looking at high cost of living and loadsheding etc that we are being subjected to.
They can even franchise it out to competent businessmen. Not close
Why not just transfer them to other departments like you were transferred from another ministry
Mr Minister you have no right to close an institution but you can advocate for the removal of management that is incompetent…
Government has powers to close any institution(government or private) if that institution is not meeting the minimum required standards set out for the smooth and health operations
Animal Rights Activist
If that was the criteria government itself would be closed….lol
these guys need to change their verbiage, stop with all these “warnings”. how about you start being leaders and give direction where you deem it necessary?
what suggestion did he give to make improvements as the minister responsible?
lead by motivating and not by intimidation, it doesn’t work. I’ve a feeling he has no clue on how to make improvements but rather than being pragmatic and probably sitting down with the current management and listen to their concerns, he threatens them with closures.
I’ve read similar sentiments from lung u and other ministers. is that the only way to govern in Zambia, by threats?
Mukolwe
Especially Kampyongo, all he knows is issuing threats…
Threats threats and more threats and thats the best way to run issues when you have no clue of what you need to do. Besides there should be some tumahidden agenda here. Someone has run out of where to have quick cash. Chayuma!!!! Kikikiki. Yes just close it we buy plots from you sir. We need some land after all this guy is used to such things. No sir have a solution for the MW and thats why you are there its not about closing but opening to the public and thats exactly what you are saying and where is this closing coming from – same mouth ka…
Disaster!!!!
These guys are always travelling, aren’t they? And I am sure they have seen how beautiful the places they are visiting at our expense are. ECL is in Japan right now. How about learning from them instead of what they are doing? Which is nothing! Nsoni, zili ku?
Was this park not leased out to some private entity that was maintaining it since government had even failed to feed all the animals there and were malnourished. What happened to that arrangement did government repossess the park?
Look who is talking, the most corrupt minister in ZAMBIA…. Your time is coming when no one will defend you…
Someone said nyama zizasila.
Close and sale to the Chinese! We know these games ! Bazadyapo che vinyama ma concho ba pangepo na mall!