The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Secretariat is delighted to announce the appointment of two new senior staff members, effective 1 April 2025 as follows:
Tichawona Chiweshe; Finance and Administration Manager
Tichawona Chiweshe is a seasoned Financial Manager with 18 years of experience in accounting and financial leadership. Joining the KAZA TFCA Secretariat from the Peace Parks Foundation, his expertise includes developing and implementing financial systems, leading project budgeting, and generating financial reports.
Tichawona is skilled in communication, planning, and problem-solving, ensuring financial efficiency and compliance across diverse projects. He holds an M.Sc. in Strategic Management and a BCom Honours Degree in Finance. His career highlights include leading the implementation of financial systems for the KAZA TFCA where he previously served as Accountant and Financial Controller, as well as demonstrating financial leadership for organizations such as Peace Parks Foundation and WWF Zimbabwe.
Mark Ssemakula; Program Manager
Mark is a seasoned professional with expertise in sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management. He is passionate about driving impactful programs that balance environmental preservation with socio-economic progress.
He has experience in both the public and private sectors, having served as a Forest and Range Resources Officer with Botswana’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Following his tenure with the Botswana Government he took on the role of Biodiverse Landscapes Fund Programme Manager at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, where he oversaw a segment of the £100 million initiative focused on conservation and poverty alleviation in the KAZA region.
Currently, Mark is the Chairperson of Stop Illegal Fishing, a pan-African non-profit organization that supports policy advocacy and international efforts to combat illegal fishing across African fisheries. His extensive experience in fisheries research and analysis was honed through his tenure at Nordenfjeldske Development Services.
He holds an MSc in Environmental Science, an Honours degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and a BSc in Natural Resources, and has professional qualifications in project management and sustainable finance.
