WINDHOEK – The Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N) has handed over 10 tourism projects to communal conservancies in the Zambezi Region yesterday.
The projects with a combined value of N$17 million are related to eco-tourism endeavours in the region and will benefit the communities in nine conservancies, which include Kwandu, Mashi, Mayuni, Baljerwa, Kasika, Wuparo, Sikunga, Impalila and Salambala that are all under the traditional jurisdiction of Chief Kisko Liswani III. The colourful handover ceremony took place at one of the project sites, the Namushasha Cultural Centre near Kongola in the Mashi Conservancy, and was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), local politicians, traditional leaders and close to 100 conservancy members. Senior Traditional Councillor Jonathan Limbo, who spoke on behalf of the conservancies, thanked MCA-N for the investment that will empower local communities. Governor of the Zambezi Region Lawrence Sampofu highlighted the importance of the projects for the development of the tourism industry, saying they will benefit both the wildlife in the region and the beneficiary communities.
The Director of Regional Services and Park Management, Colgar Sikopo, who also attended the event spoke at length about the unseful lessons learned in conservancy management and sustainability over the years and the importance of utilising that knowledge and experience going forward. MCA-N CEO Penny Akwenye also stressed the impact of the support programme on the entire Namibian economy. “Investment by the private sector in eco-tourism has increased from N$3 million to N$100 million since 2010, and where we expected to create over 100 jobs, we have now reached 400 employees,” she said.
MCA-N supports projects in 31 of Namibia’s 79 communal conservancies. The projects in the Zambezi Region consist of three lodges that are joint ventures between conservancy members and private investors, a cultural centre, the upgrade of several craft centres, a community bakery, boats and equipment for a fishery project, and various activities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, such as the erection of fences to protect people from the ever present threat of crocodile attacks. Also, MCA-N translocated over 1 000 wild animals from larger game parks to the communal conservancies, including giraffes and eland, to make them more attractive to visitors looking for tourist attractions off the beaten track. MCA-N is implementing development projects in the country’s education, agriculture and tourism sectors funded by the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to the tune of US$304.5 million (N$3 billion) with the aim of reducing poverty through economic growth. Approximately 23 percent of the budget (N$690 million) is being invested to boost the tourism sector.
By Staff Reporter