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Kafue National Park

The Impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes on Poaching

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Fighting Poaching in North Kafue

On the face of it it's hard to see how the structural adjustment programmes and macroeconomic stabilisation polices, laid down by the multilateral donor agencies as conditions for loans and foreign aid and followed by the government of President Chiluba have affected the wildlife of Zambia. However they have had a significant impact on the wildlife and the rural communities that live amongst it.

Polices aimed at lowering inflation and its balance of payments deficits and boosting the supply side of the economy have meant a tightening of fiscal and monetary policy. In addition other urgent demands on the exchequer for debt repayment, spending on health and education and investment in crumbling infrastructure means the Zambian government has little cash to spare for conservation programmes.

Fighting Poaching in Kafue

The considerable pressure on the Chiluba administration to reduce its budget deficits has meant that the government has had to cut back on its own spending. Money spent on conservation is invariably one of the first items reduced. This means fewer government employees, including game scouts and customs officers. At a time when the poachers are becoming more sophisticated the increasingly beleaguered anti poaching units with their meagre equipment is in many cases simply not able to compete.

In many cases where staff are underpaid and morale is low corruption thrives. Scouts and customs officers employed to conserve Zambia's wildlife are forced to collaborate with the poachers or engage in illegal hunting.

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