AFRICAN PARKS NETWORK TAKES OVER LIWONDE, NKHOTAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS

In a bid to ensure smooth running of National Parks in the country, the government of Malawi has signed an agreement with the African Parks Network to manage Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota wildlife.

The signing ceremony took place today in Liwonde under the theme “promoting unique model public-private partnership in wildlife promotion”.

Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa represented the government of Malawi at the function.

Through this agreement, The African Parks Network, which is a not-for-profit company, will take total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of Liwonde national parks and other protected areas.

Apart from Liwonde national park, APN manages the following parks Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi (since March 2003), Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia (since August 2003), Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (since November 2005), Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia (since October 2008) and Akagera National Park, Rwanda (since December 2009).

The ceremony comes barely weeks after President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika signed an agreement with Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Malawi – Zambia TransFontier Conservation Area (TFCA).

The treaty seeks to create a collaborative environment towards conservation and sustainable livelihoods for the two nations, law enforcement on wildlife, working together to boost the tourism industry and protecting the wildlife for the two member states.