PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lusaka,15th September 2025
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), wishes to inform the general public that the screening and shortlisting of applications for the 2025 Citizens and Established Resident Hunting has been successfully concluded.
Following the public advert which ran from 18th to 31st August 2025, the Ministry received a total of Four Thousand and Ninety-Three (4,093) applications, with 3,811 successfully shortlisted after a thorough evaluation. The Ministry extends its appreciation to all applicants for their interest and commitment towards the sustainable utilization of wildlife in Zambia.
As part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen wildlife management and ensure that community’s benefit from natural resources, the Ministry is putting in place measures to legitimize and regulate the sale of legal game meat. This initiative is designed to curb poaching and unregulated trade, while simultaneously promoting food security, job creation and sustainable tourism.
The Ministry’s plan includes:
1. Licensing of Game Meat Traders- Only certified hunters and registered outlets will be authorised to sell game meat, in line with Section 101 of the Zambia Wildlife Act, 2015, which prohibits the sale of game animals or their meat without certification.
2. Designated Processing and Distribution Centre’s- Facilities will be established in partnership with the private sector to ensure hygienic handling, packaging, and distribution of game meat, consistent with Section 100 of the Wildlife Act, which provides for regulation of trade or movement of meat of game or protected animals.
3. Quality and Safety Standards- Strict veterinary and public health inspections will be carried out to guarantee that all game meat sold on the market meets national health and safety standards.
4. Community Participation- Part of the revenue generated from regulated game meat sales will be channeled to local communities through Community Resource Boards (CRBs), thereby enhancing rural livelihoods and ensuring that communities directly benefit from conservation.
5. Awareness and Enforcement- The Ministry, together with law enforcement agencies, will run public awareness campaigns while ensuring strong penalties against illegal game meat trading. This aligns with Section 98 of the Wildlife Act, which explicitly prohibits illegal dealings in live wild animals, and Section 102,103 which prohibits importation/Exportation of wild animals or their meat without a permit.
These steps are intended to ensure that the harvesting of wildlife resources is done in a sustainable, transparent and beneficial manner, balancing conservation goals with the socio-economic needs of the people.
The Ministry remains committed to safeguarding Zambia’s wildlife heritage, while promoting regulated and beneficial use of natural resources for the well-being of its citizens.
Issued by
Nelly Banda
