Think again America...

A doubling of aid to Africa is well intentioned but misguided; it will merely further fatten the slumbers of corrupt and dysfunctional governments, further centralize their power, and further disenfranchise and impoverish the poor. And the news that Laura will arrive in Zambia bearing thousands of mosquito nets, is terrible news for the fish stocks of our countless rivers and, ultimately, for the villagers who are so dependent on them for some protein. Everywhere these nets meant to combat malaria are being sown together and used to remove every living fish, egg and spawn from our waters. We need money to flow directly to the people through local trust structures and associations. In the one million acres of mountain, alluvial plain, rift valleys and rivers of the chiefdoms in which I work, our wildlife is being massacred by ivory poachers and the agents of the bushmeat trade. The killing fields of Africa asserts itself with renewed vigour while the money pours in, propping up governments which are no longer connected with their people. We need funds to go directly to villagers so that they may have an incentive to conserve their resources. Who will be accountable for seeing that this 'doubling' of funds actually produces an improvement in the lot of the poor? Think again America.

The Ramsar African Secretariat writes to ZAMBIA...

To the Zambia Wildlife Authority:

We recently received an email from Mr. Ian Manning, inquiring about the National Wetlands Steering Committee in Zambia. This information was provided in the updated Ramsar Information Sheet for Bangweulu Ramsar site. We however realized that we do not have any information documented on this at the Ramsar Secretariat. We would like to inquire whether this is similar to the ‘National Committee’ as encouraged by Recommendation 5.7 of the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties Kushiro, Japan (which encouraged Contracting Parties to establish, or recognize the establishment of, national committees according to the needs of each Contracting Party, to provide a focus at national level for implementation of the Convention. This same recommendation requests that national committees send the Bureau summary information concerning their establishment, updated with reference to their work in subsequent national reports).

We would therefore appreciate you forwarding information on the National Wetlands Steering Committee in Zambia; when it was created, its members, how it operates and other necessary information about. This would help us stay up to date with the activities geared towards the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Zambia and would serve as a good example to other Contracting parties. We would refer Mr. Ian Manning to you for further information on this issue and subsequent issues.

Furthermore, there was some information provided concerning threats to the Bangweulu Ramsar site and additional information which could be included in the Ramsar Information sheet for this site. You would find this information in his email which is below. The Ramsar Administrative Authority in Zambia, together with Mr. Ian Manning, can check out the possibility of incorporating this information in the RIS for this site or in what way this information could be used.

Reply from:

To Mr Nalumino Nyambe
Project Leader
WWF Zambia Coordination Office:

In response to your question concerning the National Wetlands Steering Committee in Zambia, we are sorry to inform you that we do not have any documented information on this committee at the level of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Since we are an inter-governmental organization, we work for the governments of the Contracting parties through officially appointed contact institutions in each contracting party. We have therefore forwarded your request to the Ramsar Administrative Authority in Zambia (the Zambia Wildlife Authority, ZAWA) for further information. We would forward any responses we get from them to you. Meanwhile, we would advice you to keep in touch with them and work hand in hand with them, towards the wise use and management of Zambian wetlands. The contacts information for our contact persons in ZAWA are below:

New Minister for Zambia's Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources...

Zambia's President has replaced Kabinga Pande with Michael Kaingu, the noted advocate of the information highway. Pande will now deal with those beyond our borders i.e. Foreign Affairs.

Zambia: Bangweulu Ramsar Site

Ramsar Convention Secretariat blurb...
"The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Zambia on 28 December 1991. Zambia presently has 8 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 4,030,500 hectares.

Ramsar description as follows:
Bangweulu Swamps. 28/08/91; Northern Province; 1,100,000 ha; 11°25'S 029°59'E. Includes National Parks, Game Management Areas. In addition to providing a breeding ground for birds, fishes and wildlife (e.g., the African elephant Loxodonta africaca, the buffalo Syncerus caffer, and Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekei), the site is known to support large numbers of the endemic, semi-aquatic Black Lechwe (vulnerable Kobus leche) and is home to the threatened Wattled crane (Grus carunculatus), as well as the only home in Zambia for the threatened Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). The swamp is a natural flood controller and important for groundwater recharge and water quality control. The site contains the historical Nachikufu caves with bushman paintings, maintained by the National Heritage Conservation Commission. Threats to the wetland such as poaching will be addressed by the National Wetlands Steering Committee with a proposed general management plan that will steer development away from sensitive habitats. The Zambian Wildlife Authority in collaboration with WWF-Zambia office are collaborating on improving sustainable livelihoods and ecotourism possibilities. The site was extended from 250,000 to 1,100,000 ha on 2 February 2007. Ramsar site no. 531. Most recent RIS information: 2007.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org ). Posted 25 January 2000, updated 2 May 2007, Dwight Peck."

Ian Manning comments:
In the original Ramsar core of this site i.e. the water meadows and plains associated with the Lukulu river of the S.E Bangweulu (not the river of the same name i.e. the Bemba Lukulu debouching into the Chambeshi river), and once the site of the Black Lechwe Project on Chikuni Island, which I headed from 1973-1976, the uncontrolled impacts of fishermen has had a deleterious impact on the most important black lechwe lekking grounds of the Bangweulu. Four foot fishing weirs, permanent huts and villagers houses dot the high ground, altering flow patterns and changing the dynamics of the system. Added to this the embankment access which I originally constructed to allow tourists to reach Shoebill Island camp, now forms an almost solid wall, again impacting and altering flow patterns. In addition, inflated hunting offtake quotas and poaching is from all reports having a negative impact on the biology of animals such as sitatunga, and on the quality of trophies.

What the Ramsar Secretariat does not mention is that the Bangweulu core area of the five river estuaries (Munikashi, Luitikila, Lumbatwa, Lukulu and Lulimala) and deep swamp, provide a productive fishery for the people of the swamp islands; and that what it should have done since 1976 - as per the Black Lechwe Project, was to provide sustained yield offtakes of lechwe and some other species for for people who had lived off  them for centuries (and still do, but illegally) - particularly the aboriginal baTwa centred about Mboyalubambe. This is the reason why the Chikuni Special GMA was gazetted, and why a National Park was not created. People need to be part of wildlife conservation and development, particularly in S-E Bangweulu. Present work being carried out by the GEF/UNDP Protected Areas Re-Classification Project, should see that the Luitikila National Forest, the Isangano and Lavusi Manda National Parks, the five river estuaries, the Mwendachabe forest, and their associated floodplains, and the Kasanka National park are knitted into a conservation mosaic covering the chiefdoms of Kopa, Chiundaponde, Chitambo, Luchembe and Bwalya Mponda but under a series of interlocking smart partnership of the Landsafe Trust system, rather than just a number of National Parks which exclude people, or which are unable to manage the conservation and management of the system as a whole, as is presently the case.

Auditor-General 2005 Report on ZAMBIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY...

Note: During this period, the senior officers of the Zambia Wildlife Authority were:
Director-General: Hapenga Kabeta;
Director of Finance: Tom Mushinge; 
Director of Conservation: Gershom Chilakusha

-------------------------


ZAMBIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY


Background

The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) was established under the Zambia
Wildlife Act, No 12 of 1998. Its functions include among others to:

a) provide for the establishment, control and management of National Parks
and for the conservation and enhancement of wildlife eco systems;

b) provide for the establishment, control and management of Game
Management Areas;

c) involve local communities in the management of Game Management Areas

d) provide for the regulation of game ranching;

e) provide for the licensing of hunting and control of the processing, sale,
import and export of wild animals and trophies.

Management

According to the provisions of the Act, ZAWA is managed by a Board of Directors
consisting of eighteen (18) board members appointed by the Minister drawn from
the private and public sectors for a tenure of three (3) years and members are
eligible for a further period.
The Board appoints the Director General, subject to the approval of the Minister.
The Director General is responsible for the administration of the Authority and is
assisted by five (5) directors in charge of Finance and Corporate Services, Research,
Planning and Information, Commercial Services and Game Management Areas,
Conservation and Management and Board Secretary. The Director General,
Directors and the Secretary are appointed by the Board for a renewable three (3)
year period.

Sources of Funds

According to the ZAWA Act No. 12 of 1998, the funds of the Authority consist of
moneys as may:
a) be appropriated by Parliament;
b) vest in or accrue to the Authority;
c) be paid to the Authority by way of fees, levy, grants or donations;
d) accept moneys by way of grants or donations from any source in Zambia
and subject to the approval of the Minister from any source outside Zambia;
e) subject to the approval of the Minister raise by way of loans or otherwise,
such moneys as it may require for the discharge of its functions and;
f) in accordance with the regulations made under this Act charge and collect
fees for services provided by the Authority.

Provisions of K4,014,617,507 were made in 2004 and 2005 respectively in the
Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure as grants to the Authority. However, the
Treasury released K7,470,000,000 and K4,572,000,000 in 2004 and 2005
respectively resulting in over funding of K3,455,382,493 and K557,382,493,
respectively. During the same period, ZAWA budgeted and collected revenue through fees,
levies and sales in addition to Government grants as tabulated below:

2003 (K’Million) 2004 2005
Budgeted Income 23,668 28,234 30,497
Actual Income 16,827 24,882 28,402
Variance (6,841) (3,352) (2,095)

As can be noted from the table above, the Authority collected revenue below the
budgeted amounts during the periods under review. It was also observed that contrary to the provisions of the Zambia Wildlife Authority Act of 1998 which stipulates, among other things, that the Authority may accept moneys by way of grants or donations from any source in Zambia and subject to the approval of the Minister from any source outside Zambia, ZAWA received a donation of K207 million in 2005 from People and Parks, an
organisation based outside Zambia, without the approval of the Minister.

Review of Operations

A review of the audited accounts and other relevant documents for financial years
ended 31st December 2003 to 2005 carried out in August 2006 revealed the
following:

Financial Performance
a) Profit and Loss Account for the years ended 31st December 2003,2004 and 2005

 2003 2004 2005

K'Million K'Million K'Million

Income 31,582 35,933 44,124

Expenses:

Community share of income 20,878 3,345 4,315

Establishment Expenses 8,181 25,296 24,385

Administrative Expenses 1,949 16,008 13,451

Operating Expenses 2,311 4,539 4,584

Total Expenditure 33,319 49,188 46,735

Excess of exp. over income (1,737) (13,255) (2,611)

As can be seen above, while income rose by 39.7 % from K31,582 million in
2003 to K44,124 million in 2005, the Authority continued to incur excess
expenditure over income during the same period.
b) Balance Sheet
 2003 2004 2005

K'Million K'Million K'Million

NON CURRENT ASSETS

Property, plant and equipment 10,306 12,526 12,938

CURRENT ASSETS

Inventories 918 1,224 2,142

Receivables and prepayments 4,962 3,261 4,182

Cash and cash equivalent 12,115 20,419 11,510

17,995 24,904 17,834

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Payables and accrued expenses 20,694 27,020 30,511

Bank overdraft - 17 1020, 694 27, 037 30,521

Net current liabilities (2,699) (2,133) (12,687)

TOTAL ASSETS 7,607 10,393 251

Capital employed

Capital grants 10,154 8,894 10,243

Revaluation surplus 3,506 3,506 3,506

Accumulated funds-deficit (7,534) (20,669) (27,033)

Deferred income 44 13, 498 8, 371

NET ASSETS 6,170 5,135 (4,913)

Non current liabilities

Retirement benefit obligation 1,437 5,164 5,164

SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS 7,607 10,299 251

As can be seen above, the Authority had net current liabilities of K2,699 million,
K2,133 million and K12,687 million for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005
respectively. This entails that the Authority would not be able to pay its liabilities
when they fell due. The liquidity position worsened in 2005.
Registration of Property to be Transferred by Government
22. According to Part I, Section 19 (1) and (2) of the Zambia Wildlife Act of 1998, any
property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government through the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Service are deemed transferred to the
Authority in respect of which transfer a written law provides for registration, the
Authority shall make an application in writing to the appropriate authority for
registration of the transfer. It was, however, observed that the Authority does not hold title to its buildings
despite enjoying economic benefits from the buildings. It was also observed that the
Authority had not taken stock of its properties since its establishment in 1998.

Irregular Payment of Gratuity and Allowances

In December 2001, the Authority appointed a Director General for an initial
renewable period of three (3) years. Accordingly, in December 2004 the Authority
renewed the contract of the Director General for a period of another three (3) years
beginning December 2004. However, in November 2005, the Authority terminated the contract of the Director
General after serving for one year. According to the contract, the former Director General was entitled to, among
others, a gratuity paid tax-free at 35% of basic annual salary payable on termination or expiration of contract. To be eligible for pro rata entitlement, the Director General should have served for at least two (2) years of the contract. It was observed however, that though the contract provided for non-payment of gratuity in the event that the contract is terminated before serving two (2) years, the authority paid his full gratuity and salary for the remaining two (2) years that he had not served in amounts totalling K335,488,842.50. In addition, the former Director General was paid K215,000,000 in allowances relating to the remaining period of the contract resulting in an irregular payment of K550, 488,842 which is recoverable. In his response dated 12th November 2006, the Director General stated that this was a matter of the Board and the Ministry to address as they were the ones who knew what happened.

Un-retired Imprest

Contrary to Financial Regulation No. 186 which stipulates that special imprest
should be retired immediately after the purpose for which it was issued was
fulfilled, it was observed that imprests in amounts totalling K368, 346,544.08 were
outstanding for more than ninety (90) days as of 31st December 2005.
In his response dated 12th November 2006, the Director General stated that
recoveries are effected where amounts are outstanding for a long time and that
efforts would continue to ensure that the situation was brought to an acceptable
level.

Non Recovery of Salary Advances

Contrary to ZAWA regulations, which stipulated that salary advances must be
recovered in three (3) months, amounts totalling K175,065,703 relating to salary
advances to 261 members of staff were outstanding for more than two (2) years
without effecting recoveries. In his response dated 12th November 2006, the Director General stated that as
regards non recovery of salary advances, officers who retired were being paid their
benefits by the Ministry, not by ZAWA. Consequently, the recovery of salary advances could not be done.

Trade debtors
It was observed that ZAWA did not have an effective mechanism of monitoring its
debtors. In this regard, amounts totalling K1,300,233,627, owed by nineteen (19)
operators who had since abandoned their projects and left the country or were
wrongly classified, could not be collected. Consequently, ZAWA management
applied to the Board to write off the debts.

South Luangwa Area Management Unit (SLAMU)

In January 1999, Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) entered into an
agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Norway regarding cooperation
for promotion of the economic and social development of Zambia to extend
continued assistance to South Luangwa Area Management Unit (SLAMU).
According to the agreement, the GRZ shall make all reasonable efforts to facilitate
the successful implementation of the project by granting the project status as pilot
within ZAWA throughout the project period and thereby:
a) Grant the project permission to retain all revenues from tourism and safari
hunting in SLNP and LGMA;
b) Allow the community based natural resources management (CBNRM)
approach to be continued; and
c) Delegate sufficient decision making authority to the project to facilitate its
operation.

Contrary to the provisions of the agreement with the Kingdom of Norway,
the following were observed:
i) In July 2004, ZAWA entered into an agreement with L and L
properties for culling of six hundred (600) hippos over a period of
three (3) years in South Luangwa Area Management Unit. Under this
agreement, ZAWA received amounts totalling K498,033,775 in
2005. As of December 2006, only K82,391,000 had been remitted to
SLAMU leaving a balance of K415,612,775 still owing.
ii) It was also observed that both SLAMU and ZAWA Head office had
been invoicing Chichele lodge based in South Luangwa National
Park. In this regard, the lodge made payments directly to head office
instead of SLAMU, as a result, records at SLAMU indicated that
Chichele Lodge owed them a sum of K523,403,066 (US $67,202)
whereas the statement obtained from the lodge showed that the lodge
was owing US$19,764 as of August 2006.
iii) It was further observed that the offices at SLAMU which were built
under the project have no title deed, and as such it has proved
difficult to insure the buildings whose roof was grass thatched and
prone to high risk of fire.

Irregular Procurement of Uniforms for Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC)

A review of records relating to the procurement of uniforms indicated that ZAWA
had procured uniforms for DEC using the Support to Economic Expansion and
Diversification (SEED) project funds in amounts totalling K46, 614,610.
A scrutiny of the SEED agreement did not provide for such arrangement. There was
no evidence of an agreement between DEC and ZAWA. As of October 2006, there
were 130 T-Shirts, 130 Combat jackets, 130 Long sleeves polo neck skippers for
DEC as uniforms in stores.

Irregular Issue of Title Deeds in Mosi-O-Tunya National Parks

According to the provisions of the Act, ZAWA allocates sites in National Parks and
Wildlife /Bird sanctuaries to successful bidders. The successful bidders are awarded
a Tourism Concession Agreement (TCA). The TCA is a commercial agreement that
regulates the conduct of the operators. It confers the rights and obligations of the
concessionaire and grantor (ZAWA). An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
is prepared and approved by Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) before the
operator would proceed with the development of operations.
However, it was observed that two operators namely Waterfront lodge and
Maramba River lodge had been issued with title deeds in the Mosi-O-Tunya
National Park. The title deeds for Waterfront have since been cancelled and a
Tourism Concession Agreement was signed on 8th February 2005 for a period of
twenty five (25) years. As of August 2006, the title deed for Maramba River lodge
had not been cancelled and the Authority was not receiving any money from the
lodge, as there was no agreement though the lodge operated in the National Park.
Furthermore, there was no evidence of an Environmental Impact Assessment
having been done for the above-mentioned lodges by the ECZ.

Outstanding Statutory Obligations

In accordance with the Income Tax Act, Cap 323, every employer is required to
remit Pay As You Earn (PAYE) to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). During
the period under review, it was observed that ZAWA had not been remitting PAYE.
As at 30th June 2006, the outstanding PAYE stood at K19,656,327,267.
It was also observed that the Authority had not remitted pension contributions to
NAPSA for its employees in amounts totalling K3,544,973,232 as of August 2006.
The issue was brought to the attention of the Board at its 4th meeting held on Friday
16th May 2003 by the finance committee, though no action has been taken as of
October 2006. In his response dated 23rd November 2006, the Director General stated that efforts
were being made to address the matter.

Share of Community Resource

The Communities in Game Management Areas (GMA) have formed Community
Resource Boards (CRB) which comprise a registered board for the purpose of
administering the CRBs. The main sources of income for the CRB are revenue from
concession, bird and animal fees. As a way of equitably distributing the wildlife resources, ZAWA and the CRBs
recommended allocating the utilization of the resources as follows;
%
ZAWA 50
Chief 5
CRB 45
The funds to the CRBs are distributed as follows:
%
Wildlife Conservation 45
Community Projects 35
Administration 20
Board members of the CRBs are volunteers elected among the community.

Failure By CRBs to Prepare Annual Reports and Audited Accounts

According to the provisions of Part III section 5 subsections (a), (b) and (c) of the
ZAWA Act of 1998, the Community Resource Board (CRB), is required not later
than ninety days after the end of the financial year, to submit to the Authority,
through the Director General:
_ An audited balance sheet;
_ An audited statement of income and expenditure ;and
_ A report concerning its activities during that financial year.
Contrary to the provisions of the Act, the sixty two (62) CRBs did not submit
audited accounts and did not prepare the annual reports.
A review of records and other relevant documents pertaining to the operations of
Community Resource Boards revealed the following:

Chiawa Game Management Area
The Government issued a gazette number 332 in 1998 directing all operators
in the Chiawa GMA to be paying land user fees. The fees were to be paid at
the beginning of the year. However, as of December 2005, total amounts of
K450,999,935 and US$128,857 (K440,175,512) were outstanding as unpaid
land user fees for over 120 days. As of June 2006, the fees had not been paid
and ZAWA had not invoiced the operators for the year 2006.
b) Chiawa Community Resource Board
Records obtained from ZAWA indicated that Chiawa CRB received an
amount of K71,470,328 during 2005. However, a review of the bank
statements of the CRB indicated that an amount of K200,648,714 had been
received from ZAWA. No explanation was given for the variance of
K129,178,386.

It was also observed that:
i) There were no expenditure details in respect of the period from
January 2003 to June 2005 for which the Board Secretary and the
Finance Chairperson gave no satisfactory explanation.
ii) ZAWA guidelines provide that the panel of signatories comprise two
from the community and another one from ZAWA. However, it was
observed that the panel of signatories did not include officers from
ZAWA.
iii) Contrary to the agreed guidelines, nine (9) members of the
CRB paid themselves loans ranging between K1,200,000 and
K10,000,000 in amounts totalling K38,200,000 between July and
December 2005. Though the loan agreements provided that the
loans would be recovered by June 2006 none of the money had been
recovered as of August 2006.
c) Jumbe Community Resource Board
During the period under review, Jumbe CRB received a sum of
K35,993,350 and the funds were to be apportioned as follows:
Recommended Actual
(K) (K)
Chiefs Share - 16,000,000
Wildlife Conservation 16,197,007 7,593,850
Community projects 12,597,672 7,214,500
Administration 7,198,670 5,185,000
It was observed that contrary to the guidelines, the chief was paid
K16,000,000 from the CRB funds.

In 2003 ZAWA signed a Hunting Concession Agreement with the
Mungomba Hunting Safari Company which provided for among others, the
drilling of boreholes, provision of grinding mills and the employing of five
(5) village scouts for the Jumbe CRB.
The agreement did not specify the safari operator’s obligations in terms of
quantities and values. Contrary to the concession, the safari company did not sink the boreholes
for the community, but instead only provided two grinding mills which are
situated at the chief’s palace, and the community was not benefiting from
the grinding mills as they were not accessible to the rest of the community
for which they were intended.


d) Chitungulu Community Resource Board

A review of the ZAWA field report dated 2nd December 2004 revealed that
one of the board members was given a sum of K18,000,000 paid on cheque
number 000136 to purchase a grinding mill for the community which was
not procured. As of August 2006, the K18,000,000 had not been refunded
and the matter had not been reported to the police.
It was observed that the CRB issued another cheque number 22045 in
amounts totalling K13,530,125 for the purchase of the grinding mill.

e) Mwanya Community Resource Board

During the period under review, the CRB received an amount of
K560,888,489 as community share.
It was observed that:
i) Board members of the CRB diverted funds and paid themselves
advances of K300,000 each totalling K3,000,000. The terms of the
advance were that it would be recovered by December 2005.
However, as of August 2006 the deductions had not been effected,
though the members continued to be paid sitting allowances.
ii) The Hunting Concession Agreement in the area provided, among
others, the drilling of boreholes, provision of grinding mills,
employing five (5) village scouts, employing community coordinator,
training local people to be profession hunters. Contrary to
the concession agreement, the community bought a second hand
light truck at a cost of K48,000,000 from the safari hunter. The terms
of payment were such that the community forego the drilling of
boreholes and add an amount of K24,000,000 paid on cheque
number 00050. The basis of determining the cost of the boreholes
and the valuation of the cost of the vehicle could not be ascertained.
The Safari hunter has not fulfilled the other obligations he made in
the agreement.

Ecology of the Zambia sitatunga antelope

ZAMBIA RESEARCH ABSTRACTS

Ecology of the Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei selousi Rothschild, 1898) in the Bangweulu swamps, Zambia, Central Africa.
by

I.P.A. Manning

Research into the ecology of the sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei Rothschild, 1898.) in the south-east Bangweulu, Zambia, was carried out between 1973 and 1976. The sex ratio for sitatunga does not differ significantly from 1:1, although 47.3% of the population are adult females and 25.6% adult males, 12.1% immature males, 4.3% immature females and 10.6% calves. Two conception peaks are related to the onset and cessation of the rains with breeding occurring throughout the year. Sitatunga occur singly (50%), in twos (22.2%) or in threes (16.7%). Females and their calves are the only group with any integrity. The maximum number observed in a group was 7. The minimum home range for males is 0.0363 km2 and for females 0.176 km2. Aggression and the mutual avoidance of dominant males suggests territoriality. Sexual dimorphism is marked. Pelage colouration is variable. The white facial markings are important in male agonistic displays. Criteria for relative age determination of sitatunga were derived from eruption and attrition sequences of impressions taken from maxillary teeth. Males reach a theoretical maximum weight of 106 kg at 8.1 years and females 51.5 kg at 7.34 years. Males are 54.6% heavier than females and maximum horn length is achieved at 7.5 years. Age is significantly correlated with weight, horn length and the length/weight index. The mean horn length for adults is 64.2 cm and the mean front hoof length, for both sexes, is 7.6 cm.

See Bush Telegraph for Auditor-General's report on ZAWA

Note: During this period, the senior officers of the Zambia Wildlife Authority were:
Director-General: Hapenga Kabeta;
Director of Finance: Tom Mushinge; 
Director of Conservation: Gershom Chilakusha

Supreme Court decision pending injunction given Nawalya community partners in a hunting lease...

Two weeks ago the Supreme Court heard the case in which the Zambia Wildlife Authority had appealed against the decision of the High Court in awarding an injunction to the Nawalya Community Resource Board (representing the villagers of Chief Nwalya) stopping ZAWA from removing the concession held by Leopard Ridge Safaris Ltd in their area. This decision is extremely important given that CRBs form partnerships with ZAWA and safari operators and do have the right -by way of the Hunting Concession Agreement, to choose or fire their operating partners. Of interest here will be the Supreme Court decision affecting 7 hunting companies, found in favour of the respondents. The matter must now go back to the High Court (see http://zambiasafarihunting.blogspot.com)

Corruption is real in Zambia - Saudubray

Corruption is real in Zambia - Saudubray
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday July 16, 2007 [04:00]

CORRUPTION is real in Zambia and the country should not relent in fighting it, outgoing French ambassador to Zambia Francis Saudubray has said. And ambassador Saudubray said his dream is for Zambia to implement the decentralisation policy.

During the French National Day which fell on Saturday, ambassador Saudubray said like in most countries in the world, corruption was real in Zambia. He said Zambians should be courageous, ambitious and have independent legal systems to fight corruption. He hoped that the country would not relent in fighting the scourge.

“It is not because a former president has been condemned, in a civil case by a British court, that everything has been solved. Corruption is real in Zambia, like in most countries in the world. It eats up public funds, ruins investment opportunities and compromises development,” he said.

Ambassador Saudubray said he dreamt of a decentralised Zambia.
“Who in Lusaka can claim to know what is good in Isoka, Sesheke or Zambezi districts? Only local citizens and their elected counsellors must decide on the construction of a school, a clinic, a bridge or a borehole,” he said.

He said he dreamt of a Zambia that would finally have respect for its environment.
Ambassador Saudubray said there was nothing more saddening than seeing forests decimated through charcoal burning or empty national parks because the wildlife had been ruined through poaching.

“There is nothing more saddening than seeing both the old and young throwing rubbish on the road through the windows of their cars or bus,” he said.

He said there was need to encourage the use of new domestic fuels and ban charcoal.
Ambassador Saudubray said there was need to fight poaching by offering real alternatives to the poor who go through the wilderness in search of preys by meting out stiffer punishment to those who earn a living by or promote the trafficking, those who trade in game meat, ivory or poached trophies.

He hoped those making considerate profits especially in the mining sector would be brought to pay tax.

“It is not fair to take advantage of a past agreement made with the Zambian government several years ago when the conditions for the mining development no longer have anything to do with what they were then. For instance, when copper is being sold at US $7,000 a metric tonne whereas it was worth US $2,000 five years ago,” he said.
And Ambassador Saudubray said he and his wife Virginie had criss-crossed the country and didn’t feel like they lost time in Zambia.

“I have criss-crossed your country from north to the south and from the east to the west. I have admired the Zambezi plains in Mongu or Lukulu, I have gone through the ‘black forest’ or national parks such as Kafue, Lower Zambezi or North Luangwa National Parks, I have taken water from the great Zambezi River at its very spring, north of Mwinilunga, I have refreshed my face with the mist from the Kabwelume or Kundaila Falls,” he said.

“I have swum in the crystal waters of Lake Tanganyika or marveled in front of those of Lake Bangweulu, I have admired the rock paintings in Kasama or Tonga potteries in Sinazongwe. I have exchanged views with government officials and poor fishermen at Lake Mweru. I have visited the mines on the Copperbelt and Sugarcane plantations in Mazabuka. I have participated in Likumbi Lyamize, Kuomboka, Kazanga, Ncwala exceptional ceremonies,” he said.

Ambassador Saudubray said he had kept a feeling of a harmonious country with a lot of potential that deserved more than what it had at the moment.
He hoped Zambia, through dialogue and negotiations, would reach a system of government convenient for her.

He said it was not for him to say whether it was by law or through the reform of the Constitution that would solve the issue.
Ambassador Saudubray said Zambia shoud be proud of its culture and traditions and model of government.

“How many African countries can claim to have never been at war, to be in harmony inside and outside of their borders, to play a role in promoting peace and stability? Zambian diplomacy has to capitalise on these benefits on these values, on these assets. The beneficial and peaceful role that your country plays on Africa scene must be more known, heard and recognised,” said ambassador Saudubray.

Last of the Livingstone white rhino....

Some weeks ago an AK47 bunch of Angolan plunderers, working with some Livingstone Wildlife Police Officers killed one of the two remaining white rhino, source of daily joy and tourism income, an adult female, cut off her horn, and disappeared. Further reports from Livingstone say, "...is missing its buddy and was searching in vain. Leg iseither still with bullet, or at the gate they say "shattered'. Havent seen it as is keeping low. His name is fwanya and he was always the tamest,gentlest and friendliest of them. poor thing, he should probably be sent
home!"

Apparently the Zambia Wildlife Authority have made some arrests.

These rhino were first brought to Zambia in 1961 by Barry Shenton and Johnny Uys of the Game and Fisheries Department of Northern Rhodesia, a gift of the Natal Parks Board. The picture shows Johnny and Barry delivering two rhino to Kafue in 1961, later - after the death of one of them, transferred to Livingstone's Mosi oa Tunya National Park.

Auditing natural resource revenues...

From http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2007/07/auditing-natura.html

When my editor and I were exchanging drafts of this piece, my spam blocker wouldn't let them through. There is too much talk of Nigeria and diamonds! Here is one excerpt:

Paul Collier, an economics professor at Oxford University, has a new and potentially powerful idea. In his recently published book, “The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It” (Oxford University Press), Professor Collier favors an international charter — some widely publicized guidelines that countries can voluntarily adopt — to give transparency in spending wealth from natural resources. A country would pledge to have formal audits of its revenues and their disposition. Imagine PricewaterhouseCoopers auditing the copper revenues of Zambia and issuing a public report.

Zambia's National Policy on Environment of 1995 yet to be ratified?...

Zambia has an area of 752,614 km2 located at an altitude between 2,164
and 350m with a most equable climate, largely on the Central African
Plateau, with four major biomes consisting of forest, woodland, grassland
and aquatic systems. These encompass large parts of the Zambezi and
Congo drainage systems and it is thus probably the best watered country
in Africa. It is endowed with a wealth of natural resources within 16
ecosystems with landscapes that include extensive forests, grassy plains,
hills and steep escarpments; huge lakes and rivers, deep valleys and
ecologically rich wetlands together with areas of anthropic origin such as
cropland, plantation forests and urban settlements.

All development programmes are undertaken against this environmental
background and depend to some extent upon natural resources. Above
all, the country is mainly a primary commodity producer of non-renewable
resources that require special care, management and application. It is
within this context that, with planned economic growth, the ensuing
increase in resource utilisation can only be sustained through application
of a national policy to protect and manage the environment. The country
at present faces daunting challenges of de-forestation at the rate of 250-
300 thousand ha per year; land degradation in many places verging on
desertification; wildlife depletion especially in the protected areas and all
accompanied by soil erosion, loss of productivity, inadequate sanitation
and air and water pollution.

The relationship between widespread poverty, with a national mean of
around 73% of the population living below the poverty line determined by
the Central Statistical Office, 1997 and environmental degradation, is
clear since 62% of the population lives within the rural areas where
dependence upon natural resources for livelihood is on the increase.
For example, some 60% of the total land area is covered by forest. Most
of it is degraded through deforestation, encroachment and uncontrolled
bush fires2. This situation has developed mainly as a result of long-
established inappropriate policies that tend to discourage forest
management and appear to favour other forms of land use, very often at
the expense of forests.

The population is growing at the rate of about 2.9% per annum which,
without sufficient public awareness and control, contributes further to a
vicious circle of increasing poverty and increasing depletion of resources.
This central issue is compounded by limited understanding of
environmental problems, a weak administrative and legal framework and
breakdown of traditional values and practices which previously ensured a
high degree of social responsibility and equitable sharing of resources
within a natural equilibrium.

There are 11 government ministries involved in environmental affairs (9 of
these have policies that include concern for environmental matters, some
of which is extremely scanty). There are over 33 sets of legislation
affecting the environment, much of which is inadequate. Zambia has a
dualistic legal framework and is signatory to 21 international conventions
on environment. Yet it is without a single over-arching institutional
arrangement, institution or policy mandated for integration and
collaboration over these issues of national importance.

Deficiencies reflect a historical sector approach to legislation that includes
inadequate incorporation of international standards within national
legislation; that apart from forestry, water and wildlife sectors, there is little
provision for involvement of local communities in the implementation and
enforcement of related legislation; lack of intra and inter-sectoral
institutional arrangements and few coordination mechanisms for effective
integration of legislation. The Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ),
created in 1992 through the Environmental Protection and Pollution
Control Act No. 12 of 1990, has not been able to bring into being the
necessary nationwide collaboration in environmental and natural
resources management largely through lack of resources.

Environment has an estimated budget allocation within the Transitional
National Development Plan of less than 1% of the total. There is thus a
clear requirement to appropriate additional financial resources for
environmental purposes and in particular to strengthen the ECZ.
Current shortfalls include ineffectual mechanisms for community-based
natural resources management. This makes prospects for maintaining
environmental integrity bleak and efforts for poverty reduction and
sustainable development seriously impaired. Lack of formal inter-sectoral
links and limited up-to-date baseline data further hinder the process. In
addition, at a higher level, there are limited national guidelines for
effective integration of international environmental conventions into the
country’s environment and natural resources management efforts.
Management of trans-boundary conservation of natural resources, whilst
being accepted as a key pillar in ecosystem management is not well
supported. There is insufficient provision in development programmes for
environmental education and promotion of gender equity through
inclusion of gender-related activities in project activities and national
agendas and work plans. Enhancement of private sector participation in
environmental and natural resources management, also receives
insufficient support.
Preamble to the draft National Policy on Environment (May, 1995)

Zambia wildlife officers plunder the birthright of the rural poor...I.P.A. Manning

At midday on the 24th June 2007, a few of my employees and I – accompanied by and old friend from pre UDI Rhodesia days, cut human tracks in the bed of the Ilinda stream which lies within a wonderful piece of old Africa, the West Petauke Game Management Area of Zambia,.

Looking south, I saw a wisp of blue smoke rising up in front of a small thicket; then turning north, I found myself staring at a man armed with a military weapon standing a hundred yards away, a lean and sallow complexioned man dressed in the familiar shirt worn by government Wildlife Police Officers. Unhurriedly he moved out of sight. I immediately sent two trackers after the man, unaware that they had seen a second man, similarly armed, running away, and then walked towards the smoke where lay a newly dismembered impala ram and other meat being smoked over a fire and boiling away in two pots, and the boots and the familiar apparel of Zambia Wildlife Authority employees scattered about, the organization having the mandate and duty to protect Zambia’s wildlife. Ten minutes later my people escorted the officer in charge of the Kalansha Wildlife Camp, one Joseph Mbo, into my presence. His story was familiar: they had come on poachers with newly killed animals, had fired a few shots in the air while giving chase, and had then started to prepare the meat so that it could be collected for consumption by the painfully poor villagers. A perfect alibi, naturally, but one in which the absence of a bullet would make it well nigh impossible to prosecute the gang in court. Without being pressed, Mbo happily divulged the names of his group: Daniel Daka and Fraxon Phiri from Nyimba, and Axon Phiri and Josephat Walya hailing from Kalansha game camp.

Mbo, in calm and unhurried fashion, said that they had come on the poachers the previous day. The impala ram however, had been killed but a few hours before, fresh blood still mantling the leaves where it lay. Disarming Mbo, I gave orders for the camp to be packed up and loaded on my car, drove to my camp on the Luangwa river, and the following morning then drove sixty kilometers to the little town of Nyimba lying on the Great East Road. Some half way along this track we were hailed down by none other than the ZAWA sector i/c based in Nyimba, Collins Chibeka, a name familiar to us in our ongoing investigations into the elephant and meat poaching syndicate laying waste the district. Loading him and his bark wrapped bundle of fish or meat, perhaps both, we drove to the Nyimba Police Station. There CID spent a number of hours interrogating us and Mbo, declaring that our chances of putting the gang in jail were slim. My newly qualified public prosecutor, Japhat, agreed. I tried to remember where I had read that on occasion the weight of circumstantial evidence could far outweigh direct evidence. Outside I found Chibeka, his bundle of meat already spirited away. Despondent, I drove back to the Luangwa with Mbo and my main witness, Sylvester, heading directly to the Ndevu Wildlife Camp where Mbo said we would find the other officers who had accompanied him under his command. There we found Phiri and Walya, the former a village scout employed by the Luembe Community Resource Board, the man who had run away, and Walya – he being the man who had left his trousers hanging on the tree in the poaching camp. I then dropped them off part way towards my own camp, discovering later that they had left two AK 47s in the car.

The following day I met with the Chairman of the Luembe CRB, Axon Lungu, a fellow trustee of our Luembe Conservancy Trust, and we agreed that none of the gang should be allowed to continue in their posts. And talking to other community leaders, I sense the immergence of new strength and determination to root out those who masquerade as protectors.

IN MEMORIAM: D.S.G. MacLeod - 30 years ago

In loving memory of
Derek MacLeod
Born 23.4.1944
Died 24.4.1977

Remembered and much loved
by his Luangwa friends
and his family.

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES;
HE MADE IT SO.

WILLIAM ASTLE. 11 December 1932 – 2 March 2006

Bill Astle, Gaborone c.1977

Bill spent 17 years working in Northern Rhodesia and Zambia, first as an agricultural research officer in the Agricultural Department, and later as a biologist in the Department of Wildlife and National Parks – most of it in the Luangwa Valley, and finally, as Chief Biologist stationed at our HQ in Chilanga. He left in 1973, the early 70’s being the period when a corpse of men consumed with the passion of conservation departed the Game Department for ever: Frank Ansell, John Clarke, Phillip Berry, Barry Shenton, Johnny Uys…

Bill was a wonderfully eccentric man whose generosity of spirit was combined in such delightful ways: I well remember the saga of the jacket many years ago; Bill lending his only jacket to his malonda, pitying him for the cold nights of winter in the Luangwa, then, when it was time for him to go to England on leave, looking for the jacket in irritation, then remembering what he had done with it, and ‘borrowing’ it back for his three month’s leave. And before that, in the 60’s when he gone on leave again and had returned with a wife, a beautiful and exotic creature from Brazil called Mercedes, news of her arrival drawing us to his fence, peering though with binoculars to see if it was true. And how many are the Zambians, who, having worked as labourers or carriers in the bush for Bill, or taken under his wing as research assistants - and later assisted financially by him, rose to be university lecturers, senior civil servants and the first fully certified Zambian tourist guides.

Of course, Bill’s patch in life was the Luangwa Valley, a place which he loved deeply, where indeed I found him in 1966 – already a veteran bachelor and biologist it seemed in our beloved Game Department, already with a reputation as a plant ecologist with a deep knowledge of the miombo forest. In the early 1970’s, Bill became the Department’s Chief Wildlife Research Officer, he, Mercedes and their daughter, Marilia, leaving soon after in 1973. He then went into consultancy work, moving to Botswana to carry out ecological studies for F.A.O. in the Okovango and at a research station near Gaborones. In the late 80’s he was back in the valley, again doing some remote sensing work with Steve Prince, his former protege, moving back into the same research camp he had left long before at old Mfuwe.

Bill I saw as the quintessential Englishman of the north of England: careful with his money, generous, disdaining of affected ways, a man who found great delight in a quaint phrase, a humourous gesture…a man who loved a good laugh. Of that we had many. And of course there was cricket: we played together in many places: in Fort Jameson, on the old Mfuwe airstrip in the Luangwa amidst the calling cards of a herd of buffalo that had rested there the previous night, in Gaborone and in Lobatse, and had watched cricket at his beloved Old Trafford in the sun, and in the cold. He will soon be there again, or in the valley, striding rapidly along, the carriers struggling to keep up with him; Bill, our friend.

Astle, WL. (1969). The vegetation and soils of Chishinga Ranch, Luapula Province, Zambia. Kirkia 7, 73-102
Astle, WL. (1971). Management in the Luangwa Valley. Oryx 11, 135-139
Astle, WL, Phiri, PSM & Prince, SD. (1997). Checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Kirkia 16(2): 109- 160.
Astle, WL. (1999). A History of Wildlife Conservation and Management in the Mid-Luangwa Valley, Zambia. British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol
Astle, WL. (1988). Republic of Zambia, South Luangwa National Park Map, landscape and vegetation. Lovell Johns, Ltd, Oxford
Astle, WL, Lawrence, CJ, and Webster, R. (1969). Land classification for management planning in the Luangwa valley of Zambia. Journal of Applied Ecology, 6, 143-169

Barry Shenton on dealing with crop raiding elephant

Barry Shenton in 1952 protecting villagers

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON ELEPHANT CONTROL OPERATIONS IN EASTERN PROVINCE - 1958
BY J. B. SHENTON, GAME RANGER, LUNDAZI

In order fully to appreciate the implications of these observations it is necessary to have a general idea of the elephant control policy in the Eastern Province over the past few years.

Until 1957 season, one elephant from the party actually raiding cultivation was followed for a maximum of three miles and destroyed, and then only after it was proved to be a confirmed raider i.e. the animal(s) had to visit the garden at least twice before any action was taken. During 1957, the Nicholson Theory was put into practice. In effect this entailed following the raider from the garden, and if only bulls were found, they were left undisturbed while a circuit was made to look for a possible breeding herd in the vicinity. If found, the leading or most mature female was shot. If not, one of the young bulls from the garden was destroyed.

This policy proved to be unsatisfactory due mainly to lack of supervision of the Control Guards, which meant that very little information was obtained, and the results did not seem to justify the continuation of the scheme.

Consequently this year the policy generally in the Province has reverted to that of pre-Nicholson years, except for one Chief's area in Lundazi, where the experiment has continued. This area was chosen because of the large number of breeding herds inhabiting the area and adjacent Lukusuzi, Nsefu, Luambe and Luangwa Reserves.

The results from this area and others are shown below, observed by Game Ranger, Lundazi, or, in some cases sifted from facts supplied by the specially chosen Elephant Control Guard stationed in Chief Mwanya’s area. It is intended to produce a second report at the end of this season’s operations, which it is hoped will serve as a useful basis for future control policy in the Province.

Observation 1. Chimpamba Village, Chief Chikwa, Lundazi.

Raiding by bulls in this group of villages was quite regular during March until 11 April, during which period one elephant male was destroyed on 17 March, and another bull shot on 31 March. Possibly two but certainly small female herd was in the vicinity during March/April. On 11 April after four consecutive days of raiding, the cow herd moved up the Luangwa from the area voluntarily, and all raiding ceased on that date, and has not recurred during the past month.

Observation 2. Simulemba group of villages at foot of escarpment, Chief Chikwa.

During February and March sporadic raiding by bulls took place, but it is not known definitely that any breeding herds were in the vicinity, though reported by local villagers. Raiding became more frequent however in early April, and on 16th a cow herd 20 + strong moved close to Simulemba Village, while three bulls actually raided the shambas. One of these males was shot the same day and the cows removed themselves, with the remaining bulls following to a point about 20 miles distant, where raiding took place during the following week. It is clear that the destruction of the bull on 16 April had nothing to do with the departure of the cow herd, as they had moved on some hours before the bull was shot. Later the cow herd moved to yet another area and raiding more or less followed this line.

Observation 3. Sam Village Chief Mwanya area, Luangwa Valley

On 14th March 1958, a female elephant was shot after bulls had raided, the latter having joined the females later the same day. Raiding by bulls was reported for several days previous to 14th. No further raiding has since taken place in this area.

Observation 4. Chief Mwanya's own village.

On 14 April, six females plus two immature elephant raided these gardens, one of which was shot. Eight days later, two bulls raided nearby Saidi gardens and one was shot. Here it must be pointed out that both raiding parties came from the nearby Lukusuzi Game Reserve and survivors returned there. It is likely that there was no connection between cows herd and raiding bulls in this case.

Observation 5. Changachanga Village, Chief Mwanya, and adjacent villages.

21 March, Mundu Village: bulls raided, 1 shot.
23 March, Changachanga Village: breeding herd of about 30 raided, 1 female shot. 15 April, Munyanga Village: bulls raided, 1 shot 23 April, Saidi Village, bulls raided, 1 shot.
24 April, Chiweka Village: bulls raided, 1 shot.

In all the above cases of bulls raiding, there were no females in the immediate vicinity of the bulls when shot, and apparently regular shooting of bulls had little deterrent effect. But the destruction of one female from a herd on 23 March kept the area clear for the following three weeks.

Observation 6. Tom Village, Chief Mwanya’s area.

For over a week a herd of nine females and young elephant raided this village regularly, except on the occasion when three bulls came instead. On 8 April, one cow was shot and all raiding ceased, and no reports were received for the rest of the month.

Conclusion.

1. It would appear that in the majority of cases regular raiding by bulls in an area can be traced to a breeding herd in the vicinity. When these herds are removed by shooting one of their number (usually the oldest female, or leader), the bulls in attendance are drawn away and raiding ceases.
2. The shooting of one bull raider from a party does not necessarily clear the area of potential raiders (see observation NO.5 in particular) though the remaining bulls usually steer clear of cultivation for a time.
3. It appears that on the comparatively rare occasions when an elephant herd - composed mainly of females, raids crops, destruction of one of their number has the effect of removing the herd for some considerable time. This maybe due to the fact that the females have not been affected to any extent in the past by elephant control operations, and react more than do the bulls to punishment.

Ecology of the Sitatunga

Ecology of the Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei selousi Rothschild, 1898) in the Bangweulu swamps, Zambia, Central Africa
by
I.P.A. Manning

Research into the ecology of the sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei Rothschild, 1898.) in the south-east Bangweulu, Zambia, was carried out between 1973 and 1976. The sex ratio for sitatunga does not differ significantly from 1:1, although 47.3% of the population are adult females and 25.6% adult males, 12.1% immature males, 4.3% immature females and 10.6% calves. Two conception peaks are related to the onset and cessation of the rains with breeding occurring throughout the year. Sitatunga occur singly (50%), in twos (22.2%) or in threes (16.7%). Females and their calves are the only group with any integrity. The maximum number observed in a group was 7. The minimum home range for males is 0.0363 km2 and for females 0.176 km2. Aggression and the mutual avoidance of dominant males suggests territoriality. Sexual dimorphism is marked. Pelage colouration is variable. The white facial markings are important in male agonistic displays. Criteria for relative age determination of sitatunga were derived from eruption and attrition sequences of impressions taken from maxillary teeth. Males reach a theoretical maximum weight of 106 kg at 8.1 years and females 51.5 kg at 7.34 years. Males are 54.6% heavier than females and maximum horn length is achieved at 7.5 years. Age is significantly correlated with weight, horn length and the length/weight index. The mean horn length for adults is 64.2 cm (measured according to Rowland Ward’s) and the mean front hoof length, for both sexes, is 7.6 cm.

John Barry Shenton. 30 April 1929, Eshowe, Zululand - 21 March, 2007, Mkushi

Front left: Barry Shenton, Johnny Uys on his right - with some of our guards behind, and members of the Natal Parks Board at a time when some black rhino were collected from Hluhluwe in 1961.

Barry Shenton, a quiet self-effacing man, served his adopted country for twenty years as an officer in the Game Department of Northern Rhodesia, ending his time in the Department of Game and Fisheries. At the time he joined the Game Department in 1950, there were only a few game reserves in the country, a populace struggling to defend itself against marauding elephant, baboons and wildpig, and little tourism to speak of. By the time he left in 1970, the planning was complete for the promulgation of 19 National Parks and a framework of 34 Game Management Areas, and the existence of a burgeoning hunting and tourism industry.

After a few years in the Natal Parks Board, Barry joined the Game Department in 1950 and was posted to Lundazi to join the newly established Government Controlled Hunting Scheme. This was the latest in the Provincial Administration’s efforts since 1946 to see that local people benefited from game cropping, paying hunters and properly organized and conducted hunting safaris. Barry joined Ranger Bert Schultz as one of the professional hunters, a man of great experience who had been hunting the valley since 1919. In May of 1949, the District Commissioner at Lundazi, Errol Button, suggested that it would be advantageous to nurture non-hunting tourism as well, saying that it would not interfere with the activities of local hunters. This was accepted, and the Director of the Game Department, T. Vaughan-Jones instructed Ranger Norman Carr to take over the Department’s camp in Nsefu, Chipera, and convert it for tourist use, with all revenue accruing to the Nsefu Native Authority. Senior Chief Nsefu, having been a willing partner in these important developments, then requested that his area be converted into a national park. This was refused. But with the assistance of Carr, Schultz and Barry, the move towards attaining game reserve status in 1954, and finally national park status in 1972, was inevitable. And it was Barry who laid out the boundaries.

Until 1954, Barry continued on with the hunting in the dry season, and in the wet season managed a number of crop protection guards. For this he developed policy guidelines - the same guidelines recently passed on to the Zambia Wildlife Authority as they now embark on a major new training of village protection guards, and in 1952, established a game guard training camp at Milyoti. Over the next five years Barry was a full time Ranger opening up the west bank of the Luangwa Game Reserve to tourism and also served at Kabompo, Kasempa and Lundazi, building the Nyika Lodge on the 8000ft plateau.

In 1958, Norman Carr was appointed Warden of the Kafue Game Reserve – until then run by Len Vaughan, former owner of the ranch which is now Lochinvar National Park, and was allowed to take two Rangers with him to develop the area for tourism. He was given a year to do it or see much of it lose its status. Norman chose Barry and Johnny Uys to assist him. In less than a year they constructed 900 km of road, built Ngoma Lodge and two safari camps. At the end of 1959, the Kafue was opened for tourists. In 1961, Barry married a Swedish national, Marianne, his first child, Rolf being born in 1963; and in 1964, he became the Warden.

These are some of the bare facts of Barry’s personal ulendo through his conservation life. What we are left with, apart from the existence of our National Parks, our hunting and tourism industry, his meticulous notes, photographs and correspondence - evidence of a life of reverential dedication and hard work, the orderly farm in Mkushi, is the remarkable family he has left behind: Marianne, Rolf, Allison, Derek and Clive, all, in one way or another, dedicated to conservation and the elevation of the rural poor, the selfless serving of the common good. Barry’s legacy to Zambia is immense.

Hoovering Africa’s rivers ……….by I.P.A. Manning

News that the wife of the President of the United States will shortly descend upon Zambia in order to personally deliver thousands more insecticide-charged mosquito nets, is cause for considerable alarm. In a harvesting culture, such a simple and deadly gift has already had a major negative impact on fish stocks, and obviously on other beasties like otter and crocodile who survive on fish. And where once we sat for hours escaping the midday heat in a river such as the Luangwa, safe in the knowledge that the local croc would not bother us – nourished as he once was by a plentiful supply of fish, it would be a foolish man to try it now. Everywhere the mosquito net removes the larvae and juvenile fish, the ubiquitous gillnet the rest, aided by the poisoning of rivers with easily obtained cotton insecticides. We even now, God help us, have developed a trade in vulture heads to supply traditional healers and the witchbound. Of course, such poisoning also accounts for the lion, the leopard, the jackal, the civet, the hyena…

Although Zambia has obtained an exemption from the Stockholm Convention for the use of DDT, there is not much sign of a carefully controlled programme of spraying getting under way in the villages of the hinterland. It’s all, I suppose, about the neurosis to give. Why not a net. Sounds good.

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