WILDLIFE ACT UNDER REVIEW

GOVERNMENT has started the process of making amendments to the Wildlife Act number 14 of 2015.

Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary, Patrick Lungu, said it was important that the piece of legislation was amended so that the management of the country’s wildlife resources was fully aligned with the long-term socio-economic development agenda.

Mr Lungu was speaking in Chilanga yesterday during a workshop aimed at looking at that amendment of the Wildlife Act.

He said the amendment would ensure that the intended objectives of the review process were achieved.

Mr Lungu called on the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to utilise the window between now and September to reach consensus on the amendments and preparing a Layman’s Draft Bill.

The department, he said, should also consider past and recent reforms within the wildlife sub-sector, and be cognisance of the institutional mandate of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts.

Mr. Lungu urged DNPW to appreciate the links between the Wildlife Act and other pieces of legislation and the need to draw a clear line between what needs to be legislated and the matters that could be addressed through administrative means.

He said it was important for Zambia to come up with a law that is progressive, responsive to the needs of all stakeholders and effective in supporting the government’s intentions on wealth creation and improved livelihoods for the citizenry.

The tourism sector is listed as a priority sector on Government’s agenda to transform Zambia into a prosperous and middle-income country and the sector is expected to contribute to economic growth and diversification, rural development and job creation.