24 Sep 2015

Senior wildlife warden at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Letlhakeng, Mr Mojalemotho Keakile, says Community Based Organisations (CBOs), which are aligned with government’s Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) guidelines have the potential to economically sustain communities. 

Speaking at a kgotla meeting in Letlhakeng recently, Mr Keakile said CBNRM is a government initiative where communities, through trusts, benefit from natural resources, which are abundant in their areas.  

“This is done through a committee called the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) consisting of all relevant government departments such as DWNP, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources, land boards and any other department depending on the assistance the CBO might need,” he said.   

He informed the gathering that they are in the process of amending the constitution of Letlhakane’s Motlhware Conservation Trust, to align it with CBNRM guidelines which require that trusts use natural resources in their areas to alleviate poverty in their communities.  

He said after aligning its constitution, the trust will then be eligible for assistance through CBNRM and enjoy expert advice from TAC. 

He further said that CBNRM policy guidelines emphasise that for a community trust to receive government assistance, it has to meet some core principles, among them being that it should benefit the communities in the vicinities of the natural resources, and that it should be geared towards poverty eradication in the area of interest. 

He related that with this in mind, they set out in 2012 and went around the Kweneng West region to identify CBOs which could be assisted through the CBNRM model. 

Motlhware Conservation Trust was chosen because it met the required principles.  For his part, the chairperson of Motlhware Conservation Trust Mr Tshenolo Babupi said the trust aims to use the various game found within their village to create an educational game reserve and build a cultural village, which will attract tourists from around the country. 

He said this will in turn generate income which will be used for the economic development of their village.  “This will help ease the pressure from government because it is currently shouldering the burden of alleviating poverty through such programmes as Ipelegeng. This project will enable us as residents of Letlhakeng to lend a helping hand to our government by creating employment for our children,” he said. He further appreciated the help and assistance they get from TAC. Ends