By Charles Tjatindi
WINDHOEK
The newly gazetted Bwabwata National Park is set to bring major benefits to local communities living along the Mahango Game Park and the Caprivi Game Park through new tourism opportunities.
The Bwabwata National Park has resulted from the merging of the Mahango and Caprivi Game Parks.
minister of Environment and Tourism, Rev. Willem Konjore, who made the announcement to the media recently said communities residing in the area will enjoy priority as far as establish income-generating tourism facilities.
“Communities neighbouring, or living in, Bwabwata will be given conditional tourism rights in this park. They can establish tourism facilities in this park, either on their own or through joint ventures,” he said.
Konjore further announced his ministry would invite proposals for developing a tourism lodge in the Buffalo Core Area.
The job will then be allocated to the best tender on the basis of their development plan, design, community involvement and environmental vision.
“The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will introduce the tender conditions and process to ensure a vision is achieved for the purpose of the socio-economic advancement of the local communities,” he said.
The minister added that in the light of the improved opportunities available to the communities, further consultations on the best approach to zone, manage and develop the park in the national interest and for the benefit of local residents should take place. During these consultations, all options in these areas will be explored with park residents and neighbouring communities, as well as other line ministries, the minister explained.
“The strategies agreed upon will then be implemented in partnership with the park residents, neighbouring communities and other stakeholders,” Konjore said.
The eastern boundary of the Caprivi Game Park has been extended to the middle of the Kwando River, thereby including the Kwando triangle into the Bwabwata National Park. The three core areas of Kwando, Buffalo and Mahango will also be zoned for special protection and controlled tourism.
Given the importance of protecting Namibia’s agricultural industry and preserving the parks animal population, cattle movement will be controlled to prevent the spread of diseases such as bovine lung sickness, anthrax and foot and mouth disease.