Luanda - Angolan Government is committed to continuing to develop the kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) ) that links five countries of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), with the purpose of transforming shared areas into an international tourist reference zone.

This was said Friday in Luanda by Angolan minister of Tourism, Pedro Mutindi, at the Methodological Forum between his Ministry and Tourism Operators.

He said the authorities are through with the demining of the areas covering the project within the Angolan territory, namely in the south-eastern Kuando Kubango province.

 
“Angola, together with Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are engaged in a common tourist project that will lead to major integration of the peoples and transform the region in a point of tourist attraction.

 
To the minister, actions and plans are in progress toward the implementation of the project in Angola, taking into account its hugeness, conversion of natural resources, habits and costumes of peoples and their socio/economic development.

 
In Kuando Kubango, the project covers a region rich in various natural resources required for the development of several tourist activities, like safaris, restaurants, leisure camping and many other options.

 
The municipalities of Rivungo, Mavinga, Dirico and Cuangar, in south-east Angola, are part of the project map.

 
Kuando Kubango hosts, along the Kavango Basin, part of the Mavinga Reserve, coverning an area of 8,000 square kilometres and the Luina Reserve, with 5,900 square kilometres.
 

The meeting closing on Friday, is tackling such topics as “Angola’s tourist resources”, “Development of hotels network”, “Valorisation and promotion of Angolan culture” and “Procedures for preparation of international events”.

 
On 15 March 2012 the Ministers responsible for environment, wildlife, natural resources, hotels and tourism of the Republics of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe hosted various stakeholders in the town of Katima Mulilo, Namibia to celebrate the official launch of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).

The TFCA was formally established on 18th August 2011 when at the SADC Summit in Luanda, Angola, the Presidents of the Republics of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed the KAZA Treaty. The KAZA Treaty was unveiled to the stakeholders during the official launch in Katima Mulilo, Namibia where the concept of the KAZA TFCA was initially mooted in July 2003.

 
The KAZA TFCA, situated within the Kavango and Zambezi River basins and spanning over 444,000 km2, is the world’s largest transfrontier conservation area comprising multiple resource use areas including National Parks, Game Reserves, Forest Reserves, Conservancies, Game/Wildlife Management Areas and Communal lands. The natural resources contained in the KAZA TFCA are critical to the sustainable development of the region on account of their inherent and enormous socio-economic value. Furthermore, the biodiversity in the TFCA has the potential to insulate the region from the effects of climate change.