WPAZ 2022 Newsletter
2022 was a hallmark year for WPAZ, as it saw great wins in lobbying and advocacy work, partnership engagements, communication activities, and membership growth. The Association continues to place itself as an industry leader in the wildlife economy. In 2022, government and NGO
partners reached out to WPAZ for technical input in various legislative processes and engagements. WPAZ also cemented its place as the go-to organization for advice and membership in game ranching.
2022 AGM at Lilayi Lodge
HIGHLIGHTS
WPAZ lobbying wins 16% VAT
exemption on imported game
animals
Increased membership
Launch of the State of the Wildlife Economy: Zambia Case Study
Increased partnership engagements
WPAZ co-opted on the Public-Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) Tourism
Technical Working Group
Membership matters
WPAZ’s membership is steadily increasing. The association welcomed a total of six new members. A mixture of game meat dealers and new game farmers expressed interest in joining the Association this is a great sign that individuals want to be a part of the wildlife value chain and that WPAZ is recognized as the ideal organization that is fostering the expansion of the wildlife economy.
2022 AGM
The Association held its annual general meeting in May 2022, which was attended by a large number of its members and partners, including the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Crime Prevention, Zambia Community Resource Boards Association, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, and USAID-Integrated Land and Resource Governance. The meeting was graced by the presence of Mr. Evans Muhanga, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.
Speaking at the AGM, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Evans Muhanga “As the government, we are interested in transforming the industry so that it is relevant to everyone and also relevant in terms of ensuring it can generate taxes and revenues that end up improving the welfare of our people and being able to create jobs.”
The PS of Ministry of Tourism with WPAZ’s Chairman at the AGM
Introduction of Sub-Committees
WPAZ has formed subcommittees to enhance communications and streamline membership concerns. The subcommittees are divided into three categories: administration and fundraising; policy and legislation; and technical deliverables and membership services. Members are encouraged to volunteer for any of the subcommittees.
WPAZ Lobbying Wins 16% VAT Exemption on Imported Game Animals
“VAT exemption of game animals imported as breeding stock to encourage industry growth,” said Honourable Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, during the 2023 budget presentation. A lobby win for WPAZ through collaboration with the Zambia National Farmers Union on a submitted budget consideration for the exemption of 16% VAT on all imported game animals. This lobbying win signifies that the government is committed to fostering an enabling environment for the industry’s growth and it will help to increase breeding stock for WPAZ members.
Matt Sommerville from ILRG speaking at the AGM
Lobby and Advocacy
WPAZ has been working to lobby for an enabling environment for the growth of wildlife ranching and the wildlife economy in Zambia. To do this, WPAZ has meetings with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Department of Veterinary Services, partners in conservation, and the technical working group of the Private Partner Dialogue Forum (PPDF). The PPDF reports directly to the President of Zambia.
WPAZ has been keeping a close eye on the Wildlife Act Amendment. With the assistance of its members, the Secretariat submitted suggestions to the Ministry of Tourism for the revision of the Wildlife Act in 2021. The Association has continued to monitor the Act’s progress through various means, such as having partners meet on wildlife legislation and meeting with DNPW. So far, responses from the association’s meetings have stipulated that a draft of the Act has been created and that WPAZ will be involved as a stakeholder during the validation process of the Wildlife Act.
PPDF tourism technical work group meeting
Animal Welfare Act
WPAZ was nominated to be a subcommittee to draft the Animal Welfare Act. The Secretariat participated in the process and ensured that PWE requisites be limited to essential conditions. Special request was made to ensure reduced duplication between existing registrations and obligations. For example, PWE will not be required to register under this Act and pay the necessary fees, but they will be accredited under DNPW.
WPAZ Membership Toolkit
WPAZ is currently trialing the membership toolkit and database with 9 member properties. The aim of this exercise is twofold, firstly to work on building membership service capability into the Secretariat. Secondly, the completion of this exercise will help members understand how their ranches are being managed in relation to vegetation, animal numbers, and proposed management interventions. WPAZ aims to offer members an in-depth scientific analysis and possible recommendations.
USAID Deliverables
WPAZ was awarded a second subcontract with the United States Agency for International Development – Integrated Land and Resource Governance (USAID ILRG) on deliverables that are aimed at the strategic placement of WPAZ, helping with the association’s lobby agenda, offering technical support to WPAZ members, and communication, and awareness on the wildlife economy.
WPAZ launches the State of Zambia’s Wildlife Economy Report
On the 19th of October 2022, WPAZ launched the State of the Wildlife Economy: Zambia Case Study Report which was officially launched by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Evans Muhanga.
WPAZ worked in collaboration with the African Leadership University School of Wildlife Conservation (SOWC), the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, WWF Zambia, and USAID Zambia on Zambia’s State of Wildlife Economy Report.
The report highlights key wildlife economy activities in Zambia, which include wildlife ranching, tourism, hunting, fisheries, hunting, forest products, and carbon trading. The report also makes clear policy recommendations regarding what needs to be done to improve the performance of various wildlife economic activities. To improve the game ranching industry, the report highlights the need for specific statutory legislation governing the industry, reducing duplication of mandates across government departments that regulate the industry, and the need for government support and incentives to increase participation in the industry. This report is crucial work for WPAZ, as it presents coordinated research that can aid in lobbying and advocacy to grow the wildlife ranching industry in Zambia. The report has been widely disseminated, drawing interest both locally and regionally.
Communication and Awareness
WPAZ continues to promote the association in order to drive membership growth and sustain awareness regarding the legal game meat industry through various platforms, such as social media, radio, and print media. Our communications work also helps in our fundraising drive.
In March 2022, WPAZ appeared on Dr. Mujajati’s live show, Power FM, and Hot FM radio, talking about the work we do as well as increasing awareness of the wildlife economy and talking about legal game meat as an alternative to illegal bushmeat.
On 17-18th August, WPAZ alongside DNPW attended an inception workshop in Pretoria, South Africa. This workshop was organised by the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and it brought together the continent’s wildlife economy practitioners to interrogate various impact pathways and relevant knowledge products that would help in the achievement of sustainable agroecological systems. A testament to WPAZ making waves regionally.
On August 31, 2022, WPAZ attended the 2022 Business of Conservation Conference (BCC), which was held online. The conference had over 100 participants from across the continent and the globe. At the conference, WPAZ shared a case study example of game ranching in Zambia and discussed the important role it can play in diversifying a wildlife economy as well as how it contributes to various supply chains.
WPAZ attended the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Conference on 7-9th December held at Golden Peacock Lusaka. Chanda Mwale, made a presentation on the wildlife economy, the summary of the findings from the Status of Zambia’s Wildlife Economy Report. During the presentation, WPAZ encouraged Community Resources Boards (CRBs) to primarily focus on diversifying incomes. Further, CRBs were encouraged to be innovative and seek invest in the value addition of wildlife products such as legal game meat, processed honey, and packaged dried mushrooms and mopane worms, which in the long run create jobs for the local youth in rural communities as well as promote sustainable utilization of natural resources. The presentation was well received by the participants and the Royal Highnesses present.
SANBI workshop in South Africa
WPAZ’s Executive Director at the 2022 CBNRM Conference
Partnership Meetings
WPAZ has continued to engage with partners within the conservation space in order to increase overall understanding of the sector, garner support for lobby efforts, and share the value that our industry brings to conservation. Partnerships are key for encouraging a one-voice approach on critical issues.
WPAZ had several meetings in 2022 with partners mostly focused on wildlife legislation, such as an update on the Wildlife Act Amendment, CBNRM policy, and other pertinent wildlife policies.
WPAZ met with DNPW in July 2022 to follow up on the safari outfitter’s license, creating a joint strategy between DNPW and WPAZ that will help to unlock the concerns and constraints regarding the industry, and get an update on the Wildlife Act’s development. The update on the Wildlife Act was that the zero draft was submitted to the Ministry and WPAZ will be engaged during the validation process. Engagement regarding the safari outfitters license continues.
DNPW’S staff, WPAZ’Executive Committee members and the Secretariat at DNPW headquarters in Chilanga
PARTNERSHIPS
WPAZ continues to ensure it is at the heart of innovative partnerships that support the wildlife economy in Zambia. Thank you to all the partners who have worked with the Association in 2022. Specific mention to the United States Agency for International Development- Integrated Land and Resource Governance, Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Veterinary Services, Wildlife Crime Prevention, African Leadership University School of Wildlife Conservation, Zambia Community Resources Board Association, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, The Nature Conservancy, Birdwatch Zambia, and Frankfurt Zoological Society.
Special thanks to A&P International Limited, Radisson Blu Hotel, Lilayi Lodge, Zambian Breweries, Proflight Zambia, and our members Kushiya Farms, PAHM, and Delta Farms who helped sponsor the launch of the Status of the Wildlife Economy: Zambia Case Study report.
2023 and Beyond
Thanks to the USAID subcontract, the WPAZ Secretariat has made leaps and bounds on behalf of its membership. In the last two and a half years, WPAZ has been able to work on improving services that can be rendered to membership through having fulltime staff. Staff have been able to represent the interests of the Association in various forums, government engagements and legislative processes.
The USAID funding has however is coming to an end in April 2023. This means the Association will need to increase and diversify funding in order to keep the Secretariat going. The Executive Committee have come together to work on ensuring sustainability for 2023 is achieved. With current membership subscriptions covering 15% of Secretariat running costs, the need to diversify incomes will be a key discussion point at this year’s AGM. We hope to see all of our members there.
