Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Angola, the Government of the Republic Botswana, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the establishment of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA TREATY).

This Treaty consisting of 34 articles and II Annexes, aims at establishing the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) - of which article 4 provides the geographic coordinates (in detail in Annex II) - for the primary purpose of (i) ensuring that the natural resources they share across their international boundaries along the Kavango and Zambezi River Basins are conserved and managed prudently for present and future generations; (ii) harmonizing policies, strategies, and practices for managing shared Natural Resources that straddle the international borders of the 5 Partner States; and (iii) deriving equitable socio-economic benefits through the sustainable use and development of their natural and cultural heritage resources.
General Principles of the Treaty are listed in Article 5, mainly (i) respect the sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and legal systems and structures of the Partner States; (ii) advocacy for solidarity, peace, and security; (iii) amicable resolution of disputes; (iv) recognition of the right to utilize, in a responsible manner, Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources; (v) ensure that the use of Natural Resources is commensurate with the productive capacity of species and habitats; (vi) make knowledge-based decisions derived from interdisciplinary research and traditional knowledge; (vii) facilitate consultations and effective participation of stakeholders in decision making. Article 6 regards the objectives of the KAZA TFCA, whose main ones are (i) maintain and manage the shared Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources and biodiversity of the KAZA TFCA to support healthy and viable populations of wildlife species; (ii) promote and facilitate the development of a complementary network of Protected Areas within the KAZA TFCA linked through corridors to safeguard the welfare and continued existence of migratory wildlife species; (iii) provide opportunities, facilities, and infrastructure that shall transform the KAZA TFCA into a premier tourist destination in Africa; (iv) facilitate tourism across international borders in the KAZA TFCA; (v) develop and implement programs that shall enhance the Sustainable Use of Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources to improve the livelihoods of Local Communities and thus contribute towards poverty reduction; (vi) facilitate a healthy and competitive economic environment which promotes and enables public-private-community partnerships; (vii) promote and facilitate the harmonization of relevant legislation, policies, and approaches in Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources management across international borders and ensure compliance with international protocols and conventions; (viii) build capacity for increasing the skills and knowledge associated with the management of Natural and Cultural Heritage Resources; (ix) promote the harmonization of relevant legislation, policies, and approaches in the area of transboundary animal disease prevention, surveillance, and control; (x) promote fundamental and applied scientific and multi-disciplinary research; and (xi) mainstream emerging environmental issues and social paradigms, such as climate change and HIV/AIDS, in the overall development of the KAZA TFCA.
Institutions established through the Treaty to govern the TFCA, particularly its Secretariat, will be empowered to ensure that the objectives of the Treaty are realized and corresponding strategic plans and protocols implemented. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is the custodian of various protocols, strategies and programs whose objectives are to achieve sustainable utilization of Natural Resources and ensure effective protection of the natural environment in all SADC member States (art.9).