07/06/2026
CHASING WATERFALLS AFRICA SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH NHCC TO SHOWCASE ZAMBIA’S WATERFALLS TO THE WORLD
LUSAKA, Zambia 🇿🇲, Sunday, June 7, 2026 — The National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to forging strategic partnerships that promote Zambia’s natural and cultural heritage while ensuring sustainable conservation for future generations.
Speaking during separate courtesy calls from representatives of the Chasing Waterfalls Africa initiative and the Miss Heritage Global pageant, NHCC Executive Director Mr. KAGOSI MWAMULOWE said the Commission remains open to collaborations that help unlock the tourism and heritage potential of Zambia's vast heritage resources.
Mr. MWAMULOWE stressed that heritage promotion must go hand in hand with conservation, community participation and economic empowerment.
“Zambia is endowed with exceptional natural and cultural heritage resources that deserve greater visibility both locally and internationally. We welcome partnerships that help tell Zambia’s story, increase visitor appreciation of our heritage, and create tangible benefits for communities while safeguarding these resources for future generations,” he said.
The Executive Director noted that Zambia boasts some of Africa’s most remarkable natural attractions, including the iconic Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, the only Natural Wonder of the World on the African continent, and Kalambo Falls, the continent’s second-highest waterfall. He further stated that the country has more than 200 documented waterfalls whose tourism potential remains largely untapped.
Mr. MWAMULOWE also highlighted the importance of Pan-African partnerships in advancing tourism and heritage preservation, noting that such collaborations reflect the vision of African unity championed by Zambia’s founding President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Ghana’s Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
During the meeting, Ms. GINA ARTHUR, Ghanaian Project Lead for Chasing Waterfalls Africa, expressed the initiative’s desire to work closely with NHCC in documenting, preserving and promoting Zambia’s waterfalls to international audiences.
Ms. ARTHUR explained that the project is an interregional African initiative dedicated to discovering and showcasing lesser-known waterfalls across the continent while promoting conservation and community participation. She noted that the project has already documented 33 waterfalls in Ghana through a dedicated guidebook and has contributed to increased tourism visibility in destinations such as São Tomé.
She said the organisation hopes to collaborate with NHCC in identifying, documenting and marketing Zambia’s waterfalls, while capturing the stories, traditions and cultural connections that communities have with these natural resources.
“There can be no tourism without discovery, documentation and preservation. We want to help tell the stories behind these waterfalls and support efforts that raise awareness on conservation challenges affecting water bodies across Africa,” she said.
Ms. ARTHUR further emphasized that the initiative seeks to advance Pan-African tourism by encouraging Africans and international travellers alike to explore the continent’s unique natural attractions.
In a separate engagement, Miss Heritage Global Co-Director Ms. MUDZITHE PHIRI formally expressed interest in partnering with NHCC to host the prestigious international pageant in Zambia.
Ms. PHIRI said the pageant seeks to celebrate cultural identity and heritage appreciation among young people while creating international platforms that showcase a country's unique traditions and cultural assets.
She explained that hosting the event in Zambia would provide an opportunity to spotlight the country’s rich heritage resources and cultural ceremonies, particularly the internationally acclaimed Kuomboka Ceremony, before a global audience.
According to Ms. PHIRI, the proposed partnership would strengthen heritage-based tourism promotion, enhance Zambia’s international visibility and position the country as a destination where culture, heritage and tourism intersect.
Welcoming the proposal, Mr. MWAMULOWE described the Miss Heritage Global pageant as an innovative platform capable of fostering a deeper appreciation of heritage among young people and international audiences.
“The Miss Heritage Global pageant presents a unique opportunity to bridge culture and beauty in a way that resonates across borders. We would like to see contestants become true ambassadors of heritage who actively advocate for the appreciation, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage wherever they go,” he said.
He added that NHCC remains committed to supporting initiatives that inspire greater public engagement with heritage and create meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange and tourism development.
The meetings concluded with both delegations expressing optimism about future collaboration with NHCC, with discussions expected to continue toward formalising partnerships that will promote Zambia’s waterfalls, cultural heritage and tourism offerings to regional and global audiences.
Issued by:
Original Copy Signed
Ndubi R. Mvula
Manager – Information and Public Relations.
FOOTNOTE: The National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Tourism charged with the responsibility of conserving Zambia’s natural and cultural heritage for research, sustainable tourism development, education and enjoyment of all the people now and in the future. On December 29, 1989, the National Heritage Conservation Commission Act CAP 173 was enacted.
