Africa-Press – Botswana. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA)’s common vision to conserve biodiversity and promote integrated transboundary management is seriously threatened.
This was highlighted by the Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane when delivering a reciprocal statement during a state banquet hosted Thursday evening in honour of the KAZA Heads of State in Livingstone, Zambia.
The KAZA Heads of State Summit was the first since the KAZA TFCA Treaty was signed.
Mr Tsogwane thus urged KAZA member states to maintain and manage the scarce shared natural resources, which may face depletion if misused.
“We need to meet and ensure that we protect nature and the livelihoods of those living in this region, we need to establish that relationship that speaks to the lives of our people. Let’s fight and protect the resources that God put in our hands,” he said.
He said KAZA had converged because they shared a common interest, and conservation that had to be protected in all forms.
Welcoming guests to the pristine Royal Livingstone Hotel on the fringes of the Victoria Falls, Zambia President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema said he was pleased to receive African brothers and sisters who were continuing a journey of not only protecting nature but the source of life, water.
“We have to conserve our forests, grasses and other natural endowments where life comes from. We’ve experienced the worst drought in years, which has done a lot of damage, limited waters for human consumption and industry use, resulting in energy insecurity in the whole region,” he said.
He applauded the work done in converging to discuss world-class transfrontier conservation, which accorded leaders to make informed decisions for the betterment of their communities.
“Let us grow, exploit and harness the endowments and pass them to generations after us, we must all endeavour to do so,” he added.
Namibia President, Mr Nangolo Mbumba said the KAZA was a heritage for humankind.
He said credit must be given to visionary leaders who established the KAZA, adding those who came after had a responsibility to protect the world before them.
“We give praise to past leaders who prepared us to fight for the independence of our countries, traditional leaders in some of these wonderful places we celebrate today,” added Mr Mbumba.
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