21 Mar 2016

Measures are in place to control movement of elephants into people’s fields in the Rakops area.    

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Rakops March 21, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said,  though it was a challenge to control elephant movement, efforts were in place to address the issue at hand.

He said it had been agreed that farmers should in the meantime be compensated while government was still trying to address  movement of elephants. 

On other issues, President Khama said  lack of transport at tribal administration offices would be addressed before end of March.

 He  donated 30 chairs, 10 bibles and blankets to Rakops kgotla.

President Khama was responding to Kgosi Gonkgang Mankgatau who had complained that elephants  were destroying their fields.

Kgosi Mankgatau also stated that Rakops tribal administration office did not have court clerk since 2012 and had stayed  two years without a cleaner.

The Village Development Committee chaiperson, Mr Batontoki Ramakhubu, also  complained that compensation  was processed late.

Mr Ramakhubu also stated that they were not paid 100 per cent  compensation for damages done by these animals.

In addition the VDC chairperson requested upgrading of Rakops Junior Secondary School into a unified school.

The Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama, said the ministry was aware of damages done by elephants.

Minister Khama stated that Department of Wildlife and National Parks was understaffed to cover the whole country regarding damages done by elephants.

Minister Khama advised that it was ideal for the cordon fence to be erected on the side of the village alongside the river because elephants would always damage the fence to gain entrance in to the river if erected on the side of the park alongside the river.

The fence, he said, would be erected by members of the community through Economic Stimulus Programme.

Mr Sonny Mooketsi from Ministry of Education and Skills development, said numbers indicated that Rakops JSS produced 160 students to Letlhakane Senior Secondary School that had four classes. ENDS