Staff Reporter
HEATHER Mwiza Sibungo, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, said that the exclusive rights granted to conservancies are not extended to benefit individual members of the community but are vested in the conservancies as collective entities.
Sibungo made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the joint venture tourism meeting in conservancies held in the Zambezi Region on Thursday morning.
She highlighted the important role conservancies play in maintaining and protecting wildlife, tourist resources, and ecosystems, emphasizing that these unique rights are not provided to individual community members.
“This exclusive right grants conservancies the autonomy to engage in tourism activities and to collect and retain fees from such activities,” said Sibungo.
According to the deputy minister, conservancies are granted specific rights by the government through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism as part of their mandate, allowing them to sustainably utilize wildlife within their boundaries unless otherwise determined by the Minister.
The deputy minister further clarified that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism does not recognize or endorse any joint venture agreements involving individual community members.
“Therefore, it is crucial for lodge operators to directly engage with the conservancy and adhere to the established guidelines and regulations set forth by the conservancy and the Ministry,” remarked Sibungo.
Sibungo pointed out that by following established rules, conservancies can ensure transparency, accountability, and consistency with conservation goals when entering into economic partnerships, joint ventures, or collaborations.
“This process aims to safeguard the long-term sustainability of conservancy activities while promoting responsible and mutually beneficial collaborations,” Sibungo concluded.
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