Namibian President Addresses KAZA TFCA Summit

Livingstone, Zambia – May 31, 2024

His Excellency Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia, delivered a statement at the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Summit, highlighting Namibia’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation.

In his address, President Mbumba expressed gratitude to President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Namibian delegation. He commended the excellent organization of the conference, emphasizing the importance of the summit in reviewing progress since the establishment of the KAZA TFCA in 2011.

The summit’s theme, focusing on leveraging natural capital and cultural heritage for socio-economic development, resonated with Namibia’s vision for a green economy. President Mbumba underscored Namibia’s dedication to balanced economic growth while prioritizing environmental preservation.

The KAZA TFCA, a regional conservation and development initiative, aims to promote sustainable tourism and rural development across participating countries. Namibia has made remarkable strides in protecting fragile ecosystems, with 44% of its total surface area designated as protected areas, conservancies, tourism concession areas, and game farms.

President Mbumba highlighted Namibia’s unique conservation approach, which centers on community-based wildlife management. The country boasts 86 registered conservancies and 43 community forests, covering vast areas and benefiting over 227,802 residents.

Community-based institutions, known as Conservancies, play a pivotal role in managing natural resources in collaboration with the government. Through legislation, these communities gain management rights over wildlife and tourism concessions, enabling them to develop economic opportunities such as eco-tourism and hunting.

This approach has empowered local communities, providing them with direct income from wildlife and tourism activities. Revenue generated from hunting is reinvested into rural communities through conservancy programs, aligning with Namibia’s commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

President Mbumba highlighted the positive impact of community-based conservation, including increased capacity within conservancies, job creation, and revenue generation in previously marginalized areas. He emphasized the transformative potential of holistic wildlife management in driving sustainable development across Namibia.