ZAMBIA’S President Hikainde Hichilema has urged investors to cast their nets wider to capitalise on opportunities presented by the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).
The KAZA TFCA lies in the Kavango and Zambezi river basins where Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge.
Officially opening the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance 24th annual general meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, last week, Hichilema said investors should look at sectors other than mining.
“About a month ago, we had a summit as presidents where we were looking at marketing this location which is shared among Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. We are working under KAZA as a destination. Therefore the tourism investment opportunities are immense. Please look at these opportunities,” Hichilema said.
Covering nearly 520 000 square kilometres, KAZA is one of the largest TFCAs in the world, comprising approximately 20 National Parks, 85 Forest Reserves, 22 Conservancies, 11 sanctuaries, 103 wildlife management areas and 11 game management areas.
The KAZA TFCA seeks to sustainably manage the Kavango Zambezi ecosystem, its heritage and cultural resources based on best conservation and tourism models for the socio-economic well-being of the communities and other stakeholders in and around the eco-region through harmonisation of policies, strategies and practices.
KAZA TFCA was in 2006 recognised as a Sadc project which makes it encapsulate the bloc's vision of regional integration and the promotion of wise use of natural resources and effective protection of the natural environment.