The University of Namibia's (UNAM) Chancellor, Nangolo Mbumba, has officially inaugurated a new extension building for wildlife and tourism studies at the Katima Mulilo Campus, which cost over N$360 million.

This facility was funded by Germany's Development Bank, which has collaborated with UNAM on various projects, including wildlife management and tourism initiatives.

President Mbumba emphasized tourism's significance as a key economic and social sector. "The government recognizes that the Zambezi Region and the greater KAZA area face numerous challenges, including various infectious and parasitic livestock diseases. In response to a request from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, and following a cabinet decision made in 2012, UNAM introduced a diploma in animal health at the Katima Mulilo Campus in 2013. Thus, UNAM's focus on animal health and wildlife management is both timely and relevant."

Located strategically within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Areas, Mbumba highlighted that the institution will also support the KAZA family.

He urged the youth to acquire skills essential for managing human-wildlife conflict and for maximizing the benefits that communities can derive from natural resources. 

"This, in turn, will enhance livelihoods, as communities will benefit from the wildlife, fauna, and flora of the KAZA TFCA through tourism. Communities that understand the mutual benefits between themselves and their environment are more likely to engage in grassroots conservancies than those who are excluded from the value chain."