GHANA president John Dramani Mahama is expected in the country next month to join hands with republican president Edgar Lungu to commission the Lusaka National Park.
Tourism and Arts minister Jean Kapata said in an interview that the Lusaka National Park which is located in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) will be ready for commissioning next month.
Ms Kapata said the park has already been stocked with 18 different species of animals and that the works on the parade square are almost done.
“We are doing the last touches to the parade square and the chalets where people can go and have a braii, we expect the works to be done by mid next month (May). It is expected that the president of Ghana will come to commission the park,” she said.
The minister said the park once opened will promote local tourism and enable students and locals learn more about the ecosystem.
The Government on July 18 last year in Lusaka launched the local tourism campaign promotion with the aim of attracting local people to take part in tourism.
“Many locals never took part in local tourism because tourism destinations such as Mfuwe national park and Kasaba bay are very far away,” she said.
The park which is located 13 kilometres from the central business district (CBD) will house a braii site; drive ways and a viewing tower that will enable people watch animals that have been caged.
Why cage animals? Lusaka is not New York. Leave animals to roam. That sounds like a zoo and not a park. I am not going to see caged animals! Zambia is so big for all animals and humans to share. I wish one of the lions would jump on Jean kapata and chew her P$sy!
This sounds like a Zoo madam Kapata. Is everything all about exaggeration? However. it is a good development that at last we have other heads of state accepting our invitation unlike the case has been in the last 3 years of PF.
If a lion chewed Kapata’s P&&y it would puke. Yalisasamina issues yakwa Jean. Kuti lioan ameno yawa…
Pa Zed, they like ukubuta chabe like kids back in the day.
Whatever we call this, but 18 animals requiring a head of state from another country to commission?
Waste of state resources.
Caged animals only live in Zoos or Circuses NOT PARKS!!!!
This is the way to go in a free democratic Society. The owners of this Park are South Africans yet, they are let free to come to Zambia to open up such undertakings (and even more) without any hindrance, quarrels etc., as long as they follow the law and adhere to environmental requirements.
Wither to then RSA? Why are you ‘killing foreigners’ who are bringing similar developments to your country? Our animals including Zebras, Hippos and even elephants to mention but a few, are all being flown into south Africa in the dead of night so that your ‘boers’ could set up similar businesses and offer employment to your people. Come on Zuma be real, let our Engineers, Doctors, Nurses etc operate freely in your country too; just like we have allowed South Africans in Zambia to do the same…
This is inadequate reporting by Lusaka Times. The Park is owned by ZAWA as a Department of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts. There are no South Africans involved whatsoever. The Animals are not caged. The whole Park boundary is fenced. I forget how many hectares it is but I am sure Jean Kapata will not forget to boast about the number of hectares at the commissioning.
What is the point of announcing for Mahama’s opening when the park is not yet finished? Anyway, at least we will have a place to go to and have a picnic since Lusaka city centre does not have a private or public parks.
There goes the president again. Commissioning a game park instead of delegating to Minister of Tourism or one of the many deputies. Same nonsense that he did commissioning a bunch of shops instead of leaving it to mayors.
I hear HH has 65% shares in Lusaka National Park!
Bravo HH… The always “incoming president”.
How can you cage animals in a national park and what is the point of having a viewing tower? Seems someone does not know the difference between a zoo and a park.
Someone also does not know that it’s BRAAI and NOT BRAII! Maybe this word has been Zambianised because I have seen this mistake countless times…
In my astonishment at caged animals in a park I missed the braai bit. So at this park they can also raise some kudu and some impala for slaughter. Whoever is feeding ka Lungu these train-wreck ideas should be fired for sure
A National Park in wildlife-rich southern Africa and it has animals in cages. If there ever was an irony.
Park,Zoo,Game Reserve or whatever Zambia needs to up its game in the Tourism Industry.
The big players like South Africa,Kenya and Zimbabwe have gone to sleep due to various unpalatable issues.
Tourism can bring loads of Forex,Create employment and help manage endangered species.
This is a win win situation which requires all political players to tag along.
As for the BBQ area, i wonder if we shall be roasting the same Dingi on display!!??
can we try caging bo jean kapata together with the other species in that “park”? OOh, sorry, I forgot that her ministry is relocating to Dambwa Site and Service.