LATF Champions Bold Cross-Border Action Plan between Zambia and Tanzania
In protecting Africa’s iconic wildlife and irreplaceable forests, borders should never be barriers. In an inspiring show of unity, Tanzania and Zambia have joined forces to confront the growing menace of cross-border wildlife crime, sending a powerful message to poachers and traffickers: their days are numbered.
The 3rd Tanzania–Zambia Wildlife Security Cross-Border Meeting, held from 24 – 25 June 2025 in the vibrant city of Mbeya, Tanzania, brought together high-level government officials, law enforcement agents, conservationists and regional partners. The event was convened by the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) in partnership with the UNDP Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Project in Tanzania, recognizing the urgent need for collaborative solutions to an increasingly complex web of environmental crime.
For two days, spirited discussions and strategic sessions unfolded, targeting the rapidly evolving tactics of criminal networks that exploit the porous boundaries between Tanzania and Zambia. Participants deliberated on a range of issues from the trafficking of rare wild birds, tortoises, and reptiles to the illegal trade in coveted timber species such as mukula and mopane.
In his remarks, the LATF Director, Edward Phiri, underscored the significance of the meeting. “This is more than just a bilateral engagement,” he stated. “It is a strategic platform to build a united front against organized wildlife and forest crime networks that exploit our borders and institutional gaps.” Phiri reaffirmed LATF’s unwavering commitment to supporting both countries in implementing the resolutions agreed upon at the meeting, a promise that would echo throughout the event.
Participants didn’t just talk, they set in motion a series of bold, forward-thinking strategies designed to deliver real-world impact. Among the key resolutions:
- Enhanced Intelligence Sharing: Recognizing that information is power, the two countries will ramp up intelligence gathering and cross-border data exchange. The aim is to dismantle smuggling routes and target kingpins dealing in highly trafficked species like parrots, herons, turacos, tortoises and even emerging species such as crabs and beetles.
- Capacity Building at Border Points: LATF will spearhead a specialized training initiative, to ensure officers at One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) can swiftly identify and interpret scanned images of hidden wildlife and forest products, making it far harder for traffickers to slip through the cracks.
- Infrastructure and Staffing Improvements: Zambia has committed to providing space for a dedicated border office closer to operational hotspots. In tandem, both countries have agreed to boost frontline staffing at the one stop border all devoted to tackling forest and wildlife crime.
- Expanding Regional Collaboration: To address the wider regional dynamics of wildlife trafficking, LATF has been tasked with inviting Malawi and Mozambique to join the next cross-border meeting, slated for June 2026 in Zambia, laying the groundwork for an expanded coalition.
- Policy Dialogue at the Highest Level: LATF will convene a Director-level policy forum aimed at harmonizing institutional and legislative responses to transboundary wildlife and forest crimes, ensuring that policy keeps pace with the shifting tactics of criminal networks.
This landmark meeting did more than generate resolutions; it set a new benchmark for what is possible when nations work together, guided by trust, transparency and a shared vision for the future. By transforming dialogue into determined action, LATF has established itself as a driving force in Africa’s fight against wildlife and forest crime, one that other regions can look to for inspiration.
As Director Phiri so eloquently concluded, “These resolutions are not just commitments on paper, they are the blueprint for dismantling the criminal networks that threaten our natural heritage. LATF will continue to walk alongside Tanzania and Zambia to ensure implementation, accountability and impact.”
With these new measures in place and a renewed spirit of collaboration, Tanzania and Zambia stand poised to strike a decisive blow against the syndicates threatening their biodiversity. Their approach, combining on-the-ground enforcement, intelligence sharing, regional outreach, and high-level policy dialogue, illustrates the power of unity and innovation in the face of an escalating global challenge.
Together, Tanzania, Zambia, and the LATF are proving that with courage, collaboration, and commitment, a safer future for Africa’s wildlife is within reach.
