07 Aug 2014

Sankoyo Tshwaragano Management Trust has suspended its community development projects due to financial constraints.



The trust is said to be experiencing challenges of generating income since shifting from consumptive tourism to non-consumptive tourism.



In an interview, Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo confirmed that since they moved from consumptive tourism to non-consumptive tourism, things are not working according to their plan as they are failing to generate revenue. 



He noted that many development projects that were on the pipeline for implementation had halted, adding that the trust used to assist the needy society with funds but that had long stopped too.

Kgosi Moalosi said some structures are not operating because the trust has been not issued with a lease and they have also stopped training the youth in different tourism programmes due to budgetary constraints.

The trust is also financing the local football club, Sankoyo Bush Bucks, which has been promoted to the premier league last season.



Kgosi Moalosi also noted that they had a big project to construct water system toilets in every homestead in the village, but that had not materialised. 



The trust targeted 70 homes and only 20 homesteads benefited, adding that the project was implemented in phases as they aimed to construct 20 toilets every year, but due to inadequate budget, the project has stopped.



He said despite their efforts to award tenders to potential investors last year, their efforts had been frustrated by delays to be issued with the lease even though they had made all the necessary arrangements.



Kgosi Moalosi said they took the matter up with the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism who gave them the go ahead to operate but the investors are reluctant to operate without a signed lease. 



He urged the ministry to speed up the process noting that Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme is now failing to produce the expected results as trusts are not achieving their objectives. 



Furthermore, he said CBNRM is a good initiative aimed to promote natural resources conservation and sustainable utilisation by the local communities, while reaping economic and social benefits.



He noted that the trust is experiencing a lot of challenges as many workers had been retrenched and only a skeletal staff has remained.  

Kgosi Moalosi also noted that only Kajikini campsite is operating and it could not fund development projects for the village nor pay staff.



The trust has been playing a pivotal role in supporting community development projects. It has been generating income through the sale of hunting concessions acquired from authorised hunting areas.



Through their proceeds, the trust managed to construct a community hall and installed water standpipe for all households in Sankoyo. ENDS