The partners involved in the development of the Mwanachingwala Conservation Area (MCA) certainly had cause for celebration at the successful translocation of zebra and impala from Mosi-ou-Tunya National Park in Livingstone in August this year. This effort is part of a vision to restore the indigenous flora and fauna within the conservancy.

The Mwanachingwala Conservation Area (MCA) is an area of approximately 55,000 hectares comprising land contributed by the people of the Mwanachingwala chiefdom and the private sector in Mazabuka, in the Southern Province of Zambia. The private sector in the MCA comprises sugar cane plantations namely Zambia Sugar, Nanga Farms, Ceres Farm, Zambezi Ranching & Cropping and Pinkney & Bignell Farms.

The partners came together in 2001 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with WWF to establish the MCA.

The conservancy’s ultimate goal is the rehabilitation and wise use of this part of the Kafue Flats. This encompasses the maintenance of healthy functioning wetlands and improved water management to sustain the ecosystem and benefit local partners.

The restoration of wildlife is part of larger plans to attract tourism to the conservancy. Funds generated from developing this sector will be used to improve amenities and services available to the local community and fund other socio-economic development programmes.

Learn more about this partnership between communities and the agricultural sector in the Zambia Special Feature.