Possible peace park for Zambia and Malawi

ZAMBIA and Malawi have signed an agreement that will see the establishment of a new transfrontier park. This according to a report in the daily 'Times of Zambia' newspaper, which confirms that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Malawi to establish the 33 000 sq km park. According to a statement released by Zambia’s tourism, environment and natural resources minister, Patrick Kalifungwa, the proposed park will consolidate Zambia’s Nyika national park, the Lundazi forestry reserve and Lukusuzi national Park, as well as Malawi’s Nyika national park, Vwaza Marsh wildlife reserve and Kasungu national park. The report speculates that the final treaty establishing the park will be signed in December 2005. Transfrontier parks are areas comprising two or more conservation areas that border each other across international boundaries. Among those already created in Southern Africa are the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park encompassing conservation areas in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park between Botswana and South Africa. (Natalia Thomson)