.Kapata
By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Government will next year establish two national parks in provinces which will be identified with enough resources to accommodate game reserves, Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has said.
This follows a directive from President Edgar Lungu that the ministries’ of Tourism and Local Government should review existing town plans and allocate space for game reserves.
Ms Kapata said in an interview yesterday that her Ministry together with that of Local Government and Lands had commenced plans of identifying space to accommodate new game reserves.
“We are sitting as a ministry with our colleagues in other ministries to plan for the establishment of at least two parks at provincial level next year, after which the programme would continue in phases,” Ms Kapata said.
Ms Kapata said the plan was to position the new game reserves in sites dotted around other tourist attractions such as the Musonda Falls in Luapula.
She said Government was committed to ensuring that the project was a success to boost tourism activities which should ultimately benefit Zambians beyond employment creation.
During the official opening of the Lusaka Park in Shantumbu area this month, President Lungu said game reserves would give people an opportunity to be productive and improve the quality of life.
