Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba says he is shocked by the protests staged in Northern and Southern Regions by officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
Speaking during a press briefing, Mr. Sikumba says he is surprised that officers have opted to take to the streets despite being fully aware that internal discussions were already underway to address their concerns.
The closure of park entrances has left several tour operators unable to conduct business, prompting concern from the Zambia Association of Indigenous Tour Operators (ZATO), which has described the action as disruptive to the tourism sector.
And when asked whether government will compensate affected operators, the minister could not give a definitive response but noted that compensation could be considered after a thorough investigation.
In the early hours of today November 24, 2025, Wildlife officers staged a go-slow and blocked entrances to national parks to express their dissatisfaction with what they describe as poor conditions of service, attributed to weak leadership within the ministry.
By Gabriel Josias Muuba
