Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka on today toured Lengwe National Park and Majete Game Reserve in Chikwawa, and admitted that government managed wildlife reserves can do better to live to the mark.
It was discovered during the tour that Majete, run by African Parks (AP), is well managed as it has better investments and potential to generate more revenue than Lengwe, which is managed by government.
Msaka attributed the poor services at Lengwe to lack of investment by government. He pledged that his ministry will ensure that the status quo is improved.
Among the lows at Lengwe National Park are poor infrastructure and compromised staff welfare.
And Msaka said instead of privatising management of parks and game reserves, government needs to learn and borrow skills and techniques used in privatised wildlife reserves to improve those still under government management.
Government privatised management of Majete to AP in 2002 and since 2003, a lot of developments have taken place including erecting an electric fence around the park that has curbed poaching in the park.
Recently, President Mutharika moved the department of Parks and Wild life from ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture to Natural Resources, Energy and Mining and this is the first time Msaka toured national wildlife centres.
