Developing Sioma Ngwezi National Park In The Kaza TFCA

Donation of microlight to monitor and protect wildlife

From left is Prof. Andrew Nambota, representatives of the Barotse Royal Establishment, Mrs Pamela and Mr Neville Isdell next to the Bat Hawk microlight they donated, Minister Sylvia Masebo, Mr Werner Myburgh, Ms Chaze Simasiku, the District Commissioner for Sesheke, Mr Guy Robinson, the ZAWA chairman, with a community development officer and the park warden of Sioma Ngwezi National Park on the far right

From left is Prof. Andrew Nambota, representatives of the Barotse Royal Establishment, Mrs Pamela and Mr Neville Isdell next to the Bat Hawk microlight they donated, Minister Sylvia Masebo, Mr Werner Myburgh, Ms Chaze Simasiku, the District Commissioner for Sesheke, Mr Guy Robinson, the ZAWA chairman, with a community development officer and the park warden of Sioma Ngwezi National Park on the far right

On 26 February 2013, Ms Sylvia T. Masebo, MP, the Zambian Minister of Tourism and Arts officially opened a hangar, constructed by Peace Parks Foundation, and launched a Bat Hawk microlight for Sioma Ngwezi National Park.

The hangar and the microlight were both sponsored by Mr Neville and Mrs Pamela Isdell. Mrs Isdell is a Founder Member of the Peace Parks Club, having supported the Foundation’s work since 1998. With this munificent donation of $100 000, Mr Neville and Mrs Pamela Isdell have now upgraded their membership to the corporate level. Peace Parks Foundation thanks Mr and Mrs Isdell for their generosity and for their continued support over so many years.

The microlight will be used to monitor and protect the wildlife of Sioma Ngwezi National Park. Sioma Ngwezi is being developed as an integral component of the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), with a €3.3 million grant from the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Development, through KfW.

In August 2012, Minister Masebo commissioned new headquarters and staff accommodation for the park, which are presently being constructed.

At the launching of the Bat Hawk microlight, Minister Masebo thanked Mr and Mrs Isdell for their donation, and Peace Parks Foundation for facilitating it. She also thanked both for supporting the development of Sioma Ngwezi National Park. Minister Masebo reiterated the importance of developing the KAZA TFCA as a vehicle for regional economic integration through the sustainable management of transboundary natural resources and tourism development.

Mr Neville Isdell expressed his delight that he and Mrs Pamela Isdell could make this donation, thereby helping secure Africa’s most precious resource, its wildlife, for future generations and thus contributing to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of Zambia.

Mr Werner Myburgh, CEO of Peace Parks Foundation, thanked the Isdells for their donation of the first aircraft that Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has to assist it in its conservation efforts. This especially given the fact that a third of the country is devoted to conservation, as either a national park or a game management area.