Gift Mashoko
President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana has officially opened the Kasane Elephant Summit program emphasising that Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) countries are second to none in wildlife conservation and management.
President Masisi highlighted that KAZA countries will engage stakeholders to objectively address challenges in the utmost sustainable means.
Present at the summit are KAZA members, President Emmerson Mnangagwa who arrived in Botswana last night, Zambian President Edgar Lungu as well as Namibian President Hage Geingob.
President Masasi reinforced unity amongst KAZA countries as they engaged stakeholders.
“KAZA countries must unite in addressing the problems caused by elephants and will engage stakeholders to objectively address challenges in the utmost sustainable means,” he said.
President Masasi went on to say that people centred solutions are being developed to address challenges being faced by elephants.
“People centred solutions are being developed to address challenges of elephants. Elephants are vital to the ecosystem and are the flagship of our tourism. The abundance of elephants is pausing challenges, as persistent droughts continue to aggravate pressure on ecosystems and communities. The management challenges cannot be underestimated,” said President Masasi.
The Kasane Elephant summit is expected to generate better understanding of elephant management and associated challenges from the view of Southern Africa, which is home to the world’s largest elephant population.
The KAZA Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA), offers some of Africa’s best game viewing. This huge area, much of which is a vast and beautiful wilderness of deserts, savannas and endless marshes, is a safari connoisseur’s dream destination.
Meanwhile President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Cain Mathema, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Minister of Tourism, Environment and Hospitality Industry Prisca Mupfumira.
