Best wishes to all members for a happy, healthy & prosperous 2002. We hope that all corporate members and their staff are enjoying a well earned break after a busy season. Thank you all for the support you have provided to ZAWA and CLZ during 2001 without which the organization would not be as effective.

Many thanks to the Humba Bush Foundation that have kindly donated funds received from the sale of the Green Landcruiser to purchase the materials required for the construction of a shelter for the CLZ "Ndeke" (antipoaching & wildlife monitoring aircraft) now stationed at Royal Zambezi Airstrip. Once again special thanks goes to Riccardo Garbaccio and his brother Marco. Although Marco may have ventured out from Italy for a little rest & relaxation in the Lower Zambezi Valley Riccardo had other plans for him. Shortly after his arrival he was whisked down to CLZ Operations Base and Training Camp to assist Riccardo and a few of his staff with the construction of the shelter. To CLZ Minister of Transport, Communication & now Construction your title gets longer as does the list of names in your fan club. Our sincere thanks to you & your brother.

Another big thank you goes to Dale Games for the constant supply of fresh fruit and vegetables she has provided to our CLZ Base Camp volunteers throughout the year. CLZ definitely receives more for their money if the crew aren’t down with scurvy.

Thankfully December turned out to be a very peaceful month as far as poaching activity goes. This we were very grateful for as it also proved to be quite a disjointed month for operations due to a number of reasons including Zambian Elections.

One of the highlights for December was the CLZ Wildlife Police Officers Award Ceremony held at ZAWA headquarters in Chilanga on Wednesday 19th December. CLZ would like to thank recently appointed Director General of ZAWA Mr Kabeta who kindly presented the prizes to the top 15 Wildlife Police Officers of the Lower Zambezi Command Unit.

3^rd Prize O. Madzwanya

L. Mwanza M. Mweemba

G. Mwebe M. Simushi

2^nd Prize N. Wabei

D. Chinamira G. Hankombo

S. Simbao K. Mundeya

1^st Prize M. Banda

M. Chibale G. Banda

H. Zulu M. Banda

Special recognition goes to Senior Wildlife Police Officer Maziya Banda who received the most prestigious award, CLZ Wildlife Police Officer of the Year. Well done all.

January turned out to be very busy on the poaching front with a lot of shots being reported from staff who were care taking at the lodges in the park. These reports have been very important as they have lead to several successes due to rapid response from nearby patrol teams.

Congratulations to Patrol Team Buffalo I who apprehended a suspect on the first day of their patrol out of Chinyunyu in early January. Well done team, keep it up and we may see you at the next CLZ Award Ceremony in Chilanga.

CLZ Ndeke has been busy as usual flying aerial patrols and delivering rations & equipment to patrol teams in the field. Thanks go to Airwaves pilot John Murphy who kindly volunteered a few days of his time to CLZ assist with air patrols whilst Ian was in Zimbabwe making an appointment for the CLZ Ndeke for much needed maintenance.

LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDING GAME MANAGEMENT AREAS

ZAWA’s Financial Director Mr Tom Mushinge has recently advised CLZ that the General Management Plan for Lower Zambezi National Park, Chiawa & Rufunsa Game Management Areas has now been ratified and signed.

During this wet season ZAWA have recalled their officers from Chongwe Gate and Chongwe Confluence (the western most entry points to the Lower Zambezi National Park). CLZ have currently been entrusted with collection of park revenue therefore all operators are requested to please ensure they contact CLZ in advance and report to CLZ Base Camp to obtain entry permits prior to entering the Park.

COMMUNITY

On the 1st December 2001 Alan Watson of Kasakasaka and CLZ assisted the fishermen of Chiawa to return their dugout canoes to their respective villages. This is due to the fact fishing is closed on the Zambezi River between the Kariba Dam wall and the Luangwa/Zambezi Confluence between 1st December and 28th February.

CLZ provided assistance to the village of Mugurameno with transport of 80 bags of meal from Chiawa Village to Mugurameno.

CLZ send their condolences to the community for the recent loss of lives due to crocodile attacks. CLZ have offered use of their boat to assist ZAWA and the community to help control the situation.

At the time of printing the road from the Kafue River through to the Chongwe River and entrance into the National Park was still open, even if in a state of disrepair. Sable Transport, currently in the process of establishing a Game Farm just outside Lower Zambezi National Park at Mukamba Gate, have indicated they wish to become corporate members of CLZ. They have also mentioned to ZAWA that they have a grader available to assist with roads next year providing stakeholders are once again prepared to supply the fuel required.

CLZ repeater is still going strong we just wish we could say the same about the ZAWA one. During early January we have two visits by a new technician from Precision Engineering, Lusaka. Although the antenna is once again upright it appears the alarm system still has a fault. Thanks go to Dave from Kayila for your assistance with the last climb.

Once again CLZ would like to remind all corporate members that now, during the wet season, is the best time to rectify any programming faults that may have arisen with your radios, and also that every operator must have their own registered private simplex channel to avoid overloading the repeater system next season.

Valley Net is off air for the wet season due to the high number of absentees in the valley at this time of year but should be back once the rain subsides in early April.

First of all CLZ would like to pay tribute to the Royal Danish Embassy for their substantial support during the past three years. Without the support of the Danish Embassy and their staff combined with the dedicated efforts of the Danish Ambassador, Mads Sandau and CLZ Treasurer Tine Astrupgaard, there is no way possible that CLZ would have even been able to consider the enormous task of assisting ZAWA through the difficult transition period from the former National Parks and Wildlife Service. Thank –you

CLZ membership fees are now due for 2002 and we would hope that there are no fees outstanding from 2001. It is important that members realize that although these combined fees do not cover more than 3 months operating expenses without them CLZ would have great difficulty securing any other major funding. Your membership fees are what make CLZ self-sustainable.

Early into the new year a few of CLZ’s Board Members had a conference call with a new American elephant conservation foundation, Elefence International. Elefence have indicated that they are seriously interested in assisting ZAWA and CLZ with equipment required for anti-poaching patrols.

Plans are in place to facilitate a simple method for corporate members to collect the USD$1 Conservation and USD$1 Community Education levy from each of their guests (per night) as agreed last year. Just a reminder that if possible guests should be made aware of the levy prior to travel. CLZ will provide an information sheet to each camp, CLZ flyers for the guests and a receipt book in triplicate to ease collection of the levy

CLZ is seeking to increase awareness of environmental and conservation issues with the surrounding village communities. A proposal has now been submitted to the Royal Danish Embassy for funding for a CBCEP and CLZ is awaiting their response.

Thanks go to the following camps;

Kasakasaka USD 500.00

Kanyemba USD 85.00

The last couple of months have proved to be a relatively quiet time for CLZ Base Camp as far as operations go and have provided the opportunity for Ian & Lea to undertake repairs & maintenance while catching up on the backlog of paperwork created during the hectic couple of months prior.

We already have a few dates for you to pencil in your 2002 diary . . .

5th April 2002

CLZ Annual General Meeting and election of officers to be held at 1400 hrs at the Holiday Inn, Lusaka

6th April 2002

CLZ Fundraiser "Safari Party II"

Preparations are well underway for the big fundraiser of the year.

Venue Hellenic Hall, Lusaka

Time 7.30 pm

Dress smart casual

CLZ are asking interested parties and corporate members if they could please contribute to the cause by not only attending but also donating bed nights, flights, or any other suitable prize that may be auctioned on the night. Please reply to Tracy Petersie (rzl@zamnet.zm) ASAP giving full details of your contributuion. Any other donations would also be greatly appreciated. CLZ would again like to thank all members for their support.

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