03 Mar 2015

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele has advised Gweta residents to find means of utilising to the maximum the piece of land they already have as the government will not be able to increase their land.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Gweta last week, the minister noted that although the population will continuously increase, land will remain as it is and as such it means that land management should come into use.

He said as a result, it will never be possible for government to consider moving the boundaries of the Makgadikgadi National Park in order to increase tribal land for purposes of accommodating the ever increasing population.
Minister Maele further asserted that the residents should also understand that government was working around the clock to diversify the economy and reduce the economy’s reliance on minerals only.

He pointed out that wildlife, which boosts the tourism industry in the country was one area, which the government was earning revenue from. Minister Maele said therefore natural resources found in the surrounding areas of their village were of great value to be used in the diversification of the economy, hence national interest comes into play ahead of everything else in such a situation.

Furthermore, he noted that moving the boundaries of the national park would affect the movement of wildlife.
“I plead with you to use land available sparingly as there is no way in which land will ever increase to accommodate population growth,” he said.

The residents expressed disappointment at the government decision not to give a positive answer to their request, which they have long tabled before government dating back as far as 1996.
They said different ministers who came to address them regarding the issue always promised that there was a way in which they could be assisted without increasing the already existing human/wildlife conflict.

Mr Ledule Baraki, the Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson lamented that around the 1970’s, when hunting started to be controlled, the national park was established and it was around this time that the community engaged authorities to align the boundaries of the park such that it did not affect their grazing area.

He said their request was accepted and for some reason over the years, it happened that the boundaries of the park were shifted without much engagement with the community.
Mr Baraki added that as of now, the boundaries have been moved into arable areas and this has exacerbated the human-wildlife conflict.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Maipei Tsholofelo said during numerous consultations with the different ministers, they were once promised a five kilometre wildlife management.

Mr Tsholofelo said the area was going to be installed with electricity to control the movement of wildlife.
He said as changes took place over the years, consultation with them stopped and a decision was taken at their expense.

Emphasising on the national interest, Minister Maele said there was proper consultation done with the community and records can prove that during meetings to address the issues, Gweta residents were represented.
He nonetheless said although a decision has been taken, it does not mean that they cannot seek for mediation.  ENDS