WPAZ 2025 Newsletter July to December
Membership Matters
As of November 30, 2025, WPAZ has 62 paid-up members, comprising 53 Full Members and 9 Associate Members. During this period, the Association was pleased to welcome three new members: Mupamadzi Management Company, Peza Foods, and the Chitibwa Iyendwa Conservation Project (CICP).
WPAZ Invited to Address National Assembly on Human–Wildlife Conflict
WPAZ has been invited to engage with the National Assembly Committee on Energy, Water Development, and Tourism on issues relating to human–wildlife conflict in Game Management Areas. WPAZ is scheduled to make a formal presentation in January 2026.
This invitation provides a crucial platform for WPAZ to contribute practical, field-based insights to national policy discussions, particularly in balancing conservation, community livelihoods, and sustainable wildlife management. To inform the presentation, WPAZ is gathering input from practitioners and stakeholders through a structured questionnaire.
HIGHLIGHTS
WPAZ hosts inaugural Field Day
The first ever field day held in Mazabuka brought together farmers, community leaders, and trailers for hands-on knowledge sharing
Listening to our members
The Secretariat conducts membership visitations to
strengthen the association
Revisioning Community Led
Conservation
WPAZ attends regional conference to strengthen Africa’s Community Led Conservation
Community leaders gain hands-on knowledge of meat production
WPAZ and WCP faciliated an exposure visit for the Ntambu Community Game Ranch
WPAZ facilitates farm security meeting
The farm security meeting brought together key stakeholders to address farm security matters.
WPAZ and BWPA Build Regional Partnerships for Wildlife Management
In July, WPAZ Secretariat held a virtual exchange with representatives from the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association (BWPA). The discussion focused on sharing practical lessons from WPAZ’s animal-stock and conservation database, as well as experiences in promoting community-based game ranching models.
The engagement marked an important step toward strengthening regional collaboration, with plans underway for exchange visits to Botswana and Namibia to support knowledge sharing on game imports, wildlife management practices, and sustainable wildlife production.
Engaging Radisson Blu on Sustainable Game Meat Supply
In September, WPAZ met with Radisson Blu Hotel, Livingstone, to explore a partnership focused on supplying sustainably produced game meat.
With growing guest interest in locally sourced, environmentally responsible cuisine, the hotel expressed a strong commitment to introducing eco-game meat on its menus. This partnership opens up reliable market opportunities for WPAZ members while supporting Zambia’s wider wildlife economy through responsible value-chain development.
Listening to our members: WPAZ Membership Visitations
In September, the WPAZ Secretariat began its member visitation programme, meeting ranchers in Lusaka, Livingstone, Choma, and Mazabuka. These engagements are giving the Secretariat a clearer picture of member priorities, operational needs, and areas requiring strengthened policy and advocacy support.
A key concern consistently raised across ranches is security from rising poaching incidents and fence vandalism, as well as unreliable private security services. Members emphasised the need for better coordination, sector benchmarks, and vetted security options that effectively protect wildlife assets.
Visitations also revealed broader pressures affecting the sector, including regulatory bottlenecks, costly licensing processes, and environmental threats linked to rapid industrial expansion, such as mining near wildlife estates.
Despite these challenges, members expressed strong interest in enhanced WPAZ services such as training, market linkages, legal guidance, and research partnerships. These insights reaffirm an important message of strengthening collaboration and advocacy will be essential to safeguarding the future and viability of Zambia’s wildlife ranching industry.
Reimagining Community-Led Conservation
In September 2025, WPAZ participated in the Oak Foundation’s regional conference on Co-creating a Shared Vision for Strengthening Community-Led Conservation, bringing together organisations from across Southern and Eastern Africa. The gathering provided a reflective, forward-looking space to examine what genuine community-led conservation should look like and how the sector can shift to models that place communities at the centre of decision-making, financing, and long-term stewardship.
A key conversation throughout the conference focused on redefining community-led conservation beyond participation, towards actual ownership and agency. Speakers highlighted that communities must not only be involved but must set priorities, lead governance structures, and shape benefit flows, with external partners providing support rather than direction.
Unrestricted, flexible funding emerged as a critical enabler. Delegates noted that communities cannot lead effectively when funding is tied to narrow project deliverables. Instead, unrestricted investment allows CBOs to build strong institutions, respond to local priorities, and innovate sustainably.
Engaging Tourism Stakeholders at the Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA)
On 19 September 2025, the Wildlife Producers Association of Zambia (WPAZ) participated in the Zambia Tourism Agency’s (ZTA) Stakeholder Engagement Meeting held at Ciela Resort. Representing the Association, Chaliafya Katungula highlighted WPAZ’s ongoing contribution to the country’s wildlife economy and its continued support for the Take a Holiday Yamu Loko domestic tourism campaign. He further underscored the growing opportunities for deeper collaboration between ZTA and the wildlife ranching industry.
He emphasised that WPAZ members are not only custodians of wildlife but also active contributors to Zambia’s tourism experience. Across the country, member ranches offer authentic eco-tourism activities such as guided game drives, walking safaris, hiking trails, birdwatching, photographic excursions, and comfortable lodge and campsite accommodation. These experiences bring domestic tourists closer to nature, create local jobs, and keep tourism revenue circulating within communities a direct reflection of the Yamu Loko spirit.
As an umbrella body of 88 members managing approximately 600,000 hectares of protected and managed wildlife land, WPAZ reaffirmed its commitment to advancing eco-tourism, showcasing cultural value, and promoting conservation-driven land use. Despite persistent challenges, including poaching, regulatory barriers, and market constraints, the Association emphasized the vast potential of game ranching to contribute to tourism diversification and rural economic development.
The ZTA meeting brought together government representatives, private-sector actors, and tourism partners to reflect on Zambia’s 2025 tourism performance and provide input on the 2026 Tourism Marketing Plan. The engagement provided a valuable platform for strengthening collaboration and aligning efforts to position Zambia as a competitive, sustainable travel destination.
Ntambu Committee Gains Hands-On Training in Legal Game Meat Production
WPAZ, together with Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP) and the West Lunga Conservation Project (WLCP) led a two-day exposure visit for the Ntambu Community Game Reserve Committee to Makuku Game Ranch in Mazabuka and Chief’s Chef in Lusaka. The programme aimed to build practical skills in ethical wildlife harvesting, meat processing, and value addition to support sustainable community livelihoods.
Day 1 – Makuku Game Ranch, Mazabuka
Community leaders were introduced to professional wildlife harvesting, focusing on sustainable off-take limits, humane shooting techniques, and species selection to maintain strong breeding populations. The facilitator also clarified the differences between selective culling, trophy hunting, and commercial off-take.
An abattoir tour provided hands-on learning in carcass handling, cooling systems, hygiene protocols, and skin preservation, demonstrating how quality is maintained from field to storage.
Day 2 – Chief’s Chef, Lusaka
The second day focused on value addition and marketing of legal game meat. Participants learned about food safety, hygiene, required equipment, and suitable species. A live demonstration on sausage production showed how raw game meat can be transformed into market-ready products, offering new income opportunities for community conservancies.
WPAZ Showcases Game Ranching at the Mazabuka Agri Expo
In October 2025, WPAZ took part in the Mazabuka Agri Expo, engaging farmers who are increasingly exploring wildlife ranching as a viable diversification option. The Secretariat shared practical insights on establishing game ranches and producing legal game meat conversations that sparked strong interest from both commercial and emerging farmers. growing wildlife economy.
Throughout the expo, WPAZ showcased its work in promoting community game ranching and highlighted the sector’s potential to contribute to conservation, livelihoods, and local economies. The stand attracted a wide range of visitors, including schoolchildren, who received interactive awareness sessions on the importance of wildlife conservation and responsible natural resource management.
The expo provided a valuable platform to connect with the public, strengthen visibility for the wildlife ranching sector, and continue positioning WPAZ as a key voice in Zambia’s growing wildlife economy.
WPAZ at the 119th ZNFU Congress
In October, WPAZ participated in the 119th Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) Annual Congress held at Mulungushi Conference Centre. As part of its communications effort, WPAZ prepared and submitted a comprehensive report detailing Association activities from November 2024 to October 2025, which was included in the official Congress documentation.
During the deliberations, farm security once again emerged as a priority concern, particularly the call to classify game animals under stock theft provisions and ensure that first-time offenders are not exempt from prosecution.
Mazabuka Farm Security Meeting
On 21 October 2025, WPAZ together with Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP) hosted a farm security stakeholder meeting at the Livestock Services Mazabuka branch. The session brought together representatives from the ZNFU Farm Security Chairperson, DNPW, the National Prosecution Authority, commercial farmers, and WPAZ members to address the rising threat of poaching across Southern Province.
Discussions highlighted the growing sophistication of poaching activities, the need for clearer reporting pathways, and the importance of stronger coordination between farmers, enforcement agencies, and the justice system.
The meeting reinforced a shared commitment to safeguarding wildlife estates and improving security standards across the region. WPAZ will continue working with partners, members, and national institutions to strengthen protection measures and support a safer, more resilient wildlife ranching sector.
WPAZ Hosts Its First-Ever Field Day
On 22 November 2025, WPAZ held its inaugural Field Day at Makuku Game Ranch in Mazabuka, bringing together members, emerging game farmers, licensed game-meat retailers, and community representatives from Ntambu and Mize Community Conservancies. With support from Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP), community leaders were able to actively participate, ensuring their voices and experiences enriched the discussions.
The Field Day served as a practical learning platform, featuring hands-on demonstrations, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and discussions on improving operations across the sector. A key outcome was the recognition of the need for a standardised indemnity form to safeguard game ranches, hunters, and clients an initiative WPAZ will finalise and share with members.
Highlights from the event included improving consistency in the supply of legal game meat, strengthening consumer education, enhancing professionalism in hunting operations, exploring annual wildlife auctions, and expanding partnerships with key stakeholders. WPAZ plans to make Field Days an annual, rotating event to sustain learning and engagement across the wildlife ranching sector.
WPAZ at the 9th CBNRM Conference
From 9–11 December, WPAZ attended the 9th Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Conference. At the conference reafirmed the value of community game ranching and conservancies as practical pathways for strengthening Zambia’s wildlife economy and improving rural livelihoods.
Key resolutions highlighted the need for clear community-led carbon credit guidelines, fair and transparent benefit-sharing, and stronger legal frameworks to protect community rights. There was broad agreement that communities require capacity-building to engage effectively in carbon markets and that reforms are needed to ensure integrity, accountability, and genuine community benefit in Zambia’s growing carbon sector.
nably.
A Message from our Chairman: Ian Robinson
It was truly inspiring to host our first Field Day in Southern Province, the heart of Zambia’s game ranching. The event brought together game ranchers, community conservancies, safari operators, and capture companies on a unique platform for knowledge sharing. Highlights included security and K-9 demonstrations, and community participants expressed how fortunate they felt to gain practical, invaluable insights into the complexity of wildlife management.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave their time to host, share, and engage their contributions, which made the day a true milestone for the sector. I look forward to building on this success at the next Field Day.