09 Feb 2016

Captive Eye organisation will embark on anti-poaching campaigns across Boteti to address the effects brought about by poaching to the country’s thriving tourism industry.

The organisation’s executive, Mr Elvis Kebonang, said for the next two months, Captive Eye would conduct youth against poaching events themed: What’s your role campaign, in Letlhakane, Orapa, Toromoja, Mokoboxane, Mopipi, Rakops, Madikola, Xhumo, Kedia, Moreomaoto, Kumaga and Motopi.

“The importance of wildlife protection in Botswana cannot be overstated, the success of the tourism industry in Botswana rests heavily on wildlife,” he said.

The events, which would include among others a beauty contest, awareness walks, panel discussions, Kgotla sessions as well as a movie and documentary series were sponsored by Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) Sustainability Committee to the tune of P229 100.

Thus Captive Eye organisation was required by the mine to work with the local Wildlife and National Parks Office and OLDM Safety and Sustainable Development Department on this project.

The youth led non-profit organisation was formed to provide education, prevention and sensitisation measures to the public on matters concerning poaching. According to the events head organiser, Percy Mothibi awareness walks were meant to capture the attention of the public, raising awareness and spreading the anti-poaching message.

He noted that placards and pamphlets would be distributed to the public during the walks in order to educate them on the issue while the beauty pageant would bring about a sense of ownership.

Mr Mothibi said while auditions would be held in almost every part of the country, priority would be given to areas that were already or continuously getting affected by the practice.

 “The queen would be the ambassador of the campaign and was expected to travel around the country educating the nation on the dangers that were and could be brought by poaching if we were to turn a blind eye,” he said.

In addition to her responsibilities, he said the queen would also hold motivational talks to instill inspiration to those who admire the message as well as those that support and look up to the queen as a role model. He noted that the campaign had been extended to schools through debate teams while community teams would be formed to compete with each other from community to national level and would be conducted alongside panel discussions.

“There would also be a platform to form anti-poaching volunteer groups to work as whistle blowers,” he noted.

He said at the end of it all, a movie and documentary series would be shot in collaboration with community members for more understanding and for the information to reach a wide audience, and capture the attention of those who might have missed the events. Ends