Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International (SCI) proudly announces Zambia's Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Rodney Sikumba, as its 2026 International Legislator of the Year Award recipient for his outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation, sustainable hunting, and international tourism leadership.
Minister Sikumba is a Member of Parliament for Zambia's Livingstone Central Constituency and was elected in June 2025 as Chairperson of the United Nations Tourism Regional Commission for Africa. As Minister of Tourism, he oversees Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), which includes matters related to hunting policies, CITES engagement, and other critical conservation priorities.
Minister Sikumba has consistently championed policies that strengthen hunting in Zambia and across southern Africa, protecting sportsmen's traditions and promoting responsible wildlife management.
Minister Sikumba is a longtime supporter of SCI and has attended the SCI Convention several times. At SCI's 2025 Convention, he received both the President's Award and an Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his leadership and support for SCI's missions.
"Minister Sikumba has been an excellent friend to SCI and an unyielding advocate for African conservation," said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. "His leadership and support of hunting in Zambia and throughout southern Africa have positioned him not only as a key partner for SCI but also as a champion for science-backed conservation in the region. We look forward to his continued successes."
As a member of SCI's Zambia Chapter, Minister Sikumba has worked tirelessly to strengthen the partnership between the Zambian government and the country's hunting community. He was the first minister to attend the Annual General Meeting for the Professional Guides and Outfitters Association of Zambia, and Zambia's DNPW was the co-host of SCI Foundation's African Wildlife Consultative Forum last year in his home district of Livingstone, Zambia.
Minister Sikumba holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Zambia and a Master of Business Administration in Strategy and International Business from Hult International Business School in the United States. He is also trained in Diplomatic Practice Protocol and Public Relations from the Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies.
Background:
For over 50 years, Safari Club International (SCI) has been the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI is unique in the scope of our ability to defend and advance our freedom to hunt. SCI is the only hunting rights organization with a Washington, D.C.-based national and international advocacy team and an all-species focus. SCI also mobilizes more than 150 chapters and affiliate networks representing millions of hunters around the world.