17 Jun 2014

Civil societies have been urged to break the silence and ensure they protect the rights of the voiceless and marginalised communities.

Member of Parliament for Maun West, Mr Tawana Moremi said this during non-governmental organisations' annual general meeting organised by Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisation (NCONGO).

He urged them to take active participation and be seen to be presenting issues that affect the communities they represented. “I did not know that there are many NGOs in Ngamiland because you are quiet”, he said.

Mr Moremi requested them to sign a petition which intends to preserve the land rights in which many community trusts sit in.

The petition is against land dispossession which Mr Moremi said would only benefit a few and yet the district has 90% of tourism area. He said community trusts sit in areas designated as concession land and government have choosen how to distribute the land rights, leaving the occupants landless in the process.

He challenged the NGOs to ensure justice prevails among the occupants and fight against practices which intends to use the land rights of the occupants to benefit the few favored people.

Mr Moremi cited a story in Tanzania where the government denied residents of a certain village the right to stay as they were instructed to pave way for wildlife. This followed a directive from the government which intended to transfer all land rights to central government.

Mr Moremi, who is also the paramount chief of Batawana, observed that the decision would affect the communities especially those in small villages like Khwai.  Members of the NGOs concurred with the paramount chief, saying that their main role is to be the voice of the voiceless and the marginalised.

They said it is very crucial to stand united and address issues affecting the communities. Members also urged their mother body, NCONGO to take the lead and do its best to address deficiencies.

They said if there are burning issues in any sector, be it either in conservation, NCONGO has to involve the concerned people so that they exactly understand issues at stake with an aim to advice.

The chairperson of national council for non-governmental organisations, Ms Bookie Kethusegile says government recognises the important role played by non-governmental organisations in national development.

She said the sector’s contribution to national development is not only viewed as critical, but also as complementary to government efforts. She said it was the government’s recognition of the important role that NGOs play in development and its commitment to fostering the growth of the sector that resulted in the review and subsequently in cabinet’s approval of the National NGO policy.
The policy provides for a coordinated approach by NGOs to the implementation of national development plans and priorities as well as enhancing communication and partnerships amongst them.

Ms Kethusegile revealed that the approval of the policy resulted in the appointment of an NGO council to guide implementation, adding that the council facilitates a better and more widespread understanding of NGOs, how they operate and the benefits they confer on development efforts by the various sectors and other stakeholders.
She said the council also acts as an advisory body to the minister of Local Government and Rural Development on policy development and service delivery. ENDS