Timeline
1992 - 1993
Conversations and initial meetings held on an action plan for the protection of the Lower Zambezi
CLZ is founded at the request of the Chieftainess in response to the death of two community members in the Chiawa GMA
Mario Kawayawaya (notorious cross-border poacher) becomes Education/Liason Officer educating the community and influencing them to conserve wildlife
1994
1995
CLZ gets its first vehicle from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation to support the National Parks Wildlife Service (NPWS)
Big Boy, the largest elephant in the Lower Zambezi was hunted and killed
1996
1997
CLZ employs its first manager
(Derrek Gibbs)
CLZ secures essential funding from the Danish Embassy
CLZ obtains a plot on the Zambezi River and builds its first simple basecamp
1998
1999
CLZ obtains it's first plane for aerial monitoring
CLZ signs its first formal MOU with ZAWA
2000
2001
CLZ Starts facilitating safari guides training and exams
CLZ commences work on new operations base (occupied in 2004)
2003
2004
CLZ starts its Environmental Education Programme and first lady Maureen Mwanawasa officially opens CLZ's EEP Centre at basecamp in 2005
CLZ now supports ZAWA with over 3,000 patrol man days, communications, transport, equipment, rations, training and technical advice
2005
2008
CLZ employs its first female CEO
(Kerri Rademeyer)
Lower Zambezi stakeholders and operators go from $100/month to $1,000/month for membership fees to support CLZ's programmes
2009
2011
Anthrax outbreak and all lions inoculated against anthrax. The Lower Zambezi lost over 40 elephants
CLZ's EEP student Rabson Tembo becomes second in command - operations manager of CLZ
2012
2013
CLZ Establishes a 20-man community scout unit to assist DNPW with wildlife protection and to assist communities with human-wildlife conflict
CLZ establishes a Community Engagement Programme
Elephant poaching in the LZNP is the lowest on record
CLZ's basecamp is extended with new management/staff accommodation
CLZ holds its first community sports day - Rubatano
2014
2015
CLZ launches its anti-snare awareness campaign in the community
CLZ's new control room is built at basecamp and forward operating base built in the east of the park and manned
CLZ's basecamp is solarised and now completely powered by the sun
CLZ switches to a more secure vhf digital radio system
CLZ establishes an observation point on the highest peak of the escarpment
CLZ sets up a DNPW detection and tracking dog unit
2016
2017
CLz modernises its EEP through tablets with its conservation curriculum
CLZ employs a legal assistant and establishes a judicial support programme
CLZ establishes a ten-man rapid response unit
CLZ starts a fisheries and illegal wildlife trade project
CLZ now employs 58 staff (compared to 12 in 2011)
2018
2019
CLZ celebrates its 25 year anniversary
Covid hit the world - Lower Zambezi hasn't seen this little visitors in a long time
Many operators affected by the halt of international tourism
CLZ managed to keep up all wildlife protection activities
2020
2021
Kufadza – The first all-femail community scout unit in Zambia is formed to empower women in hte industry.
CLZ started a long-term training programme for all community scouts and wildlife police officers in the Lower Zambezi
Chongwe confluence receives upgrade and becomes the base for a new marine unit to patrol the river and monitor cross-border illegal activities
A new gate is built on the eastern park boundary – the Chavululu Gate has a boom, gate house and scout accommodation
2022
2023
Community fisheries monitoring unit (CMFU) established in partnership with the Chiawa Community Resource Board
The dog unit introduces a village dog programme to test the durability and success of a local canine breed
New infrastructure upgrades made at CLZ base camp – stores, workshop and solar power