KAZA-TFCA Set To Re-Engage In August To Give New Position On Ivory Trade-Restrictions

By Nevison Mpofu

Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area [Kaza-TFCA] heads of state concluded at the end of their 2024 summit on Friday 7 June last week in Livingstone Zambia that they will re-engage in August this year  in Botswana to map a new way-forward regarding ivory trade restrictions.

The 5 member states who attended the summit are President Mnangagwa [Zimbabwe] President Dr Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Vice-President Slumber Tso wane of Botswana and President Lourenco of Angola who was represented by Minister of Tourism Marcio Lopes.

The ban on trade in wild-life products has become an issue of illicit which has resulted in the decrease of some wild animals like elephants. It was made clear why the main objective of the meeting was to provide leadership guidance towards a united KAZA.

According to a press release posted early this week to Pan-African-Visions, leaders agreed on the need to explore a path towards ending trade on wild-life products. This is stipulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES]

Presenting a paper at the end of summit on Friday last week Rodney Sikumba , Zambia Minister of Tourism said  the summit urged member states to venture the operationalization of the SADC CITES  engagement strategy 2022-2026. This, he said is better to defend the conservation, sustainable use and socio-economic development interests of the region at CITES COP-20 to be held in Geneva in 2025

‘’The summit urged member states to expedite operationalization of the SADC CITES engagement strategy 2022-2026 to better defend the conservation, sustainable use and socio-economic development interests of the region at CITES COP 20 to be held in Geneva in 2025

‘’The summit considered options available within and outside CITES including diplomatic engagement, withdrawal, reservations, arbitration and trading with non-CITES parties to benefit from wild-life and wild-life products. KAZA partner states were urged to fully prepare and participate at the up-coming dialogue meeting planned for August this year in Botswana. There are also two preparatory meetings to develop a Regional common position for CITES cop 20’’ said the Minister.

Some core issues looked at with urgency is the need to speed-up approval of the KAZA TFCA livelihoods Diversification Strategy and climate change livelihood focused risk assessment strategy as well as working towards harmonization of the CBNRM policies and frameworks to ensure synchronized community benefits within kaza region. Apart from this, the summit looked at harmonization of the ownership of wild-life model within kaza region. The other important issue is of the legal policy frameworks on carbon-credit trading and forestry management by 2030. This is in line with SADC RISDP [2020-2030] . This includes wholly ban on exports of raw timber within KAZA region.

Implementation of SADC guidelines on community-based trade, CBT of beef in foot and mouth disease endemic areas to support improved animal husbandry practices, rangeland restoration and enable farmers to access beef markets, foster human-wild life co-existence and revaluation of fences as the primary disease risk management tool took center stage.

KAZA states were urged as well to promote cross-sectorial integrated land-use planning for ease of co-ordination of development within the region. It is vital to implement policy brief recommendations as per the approved Elephant Movement Policy Brief [October 2022 Ministers Committee and lay-down conservation connectivity in development and management plans.