07 Apr 2016

The establishment of the Botswana Conservation Parliamentary Caucus (BOCOPAC) shows the seriousness with which Members of Paliament attach to conservation issues.

Speaking at the launch of the caucas  in Gaborone on Wednesday, Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said to date 16 MPs from across all political parties have signed to become members.

Mr Masisi said there were a myriad of environmental issues that the caucus could address such as climate change, the environmental impact of extractive industries as well as that of land use conflicts, water development and shared water courses, among others.

He said the caucus would also deal with the environmental impact of renewable energy as well as the implementation of international conventions. 

Mr Masisi expressed hope that issues from the caucus would be brought to Parliament and influence decisionmaking.

The Vice President said the seriousness of government on issues of conservation was also evidenced by the percentage of preserved land as well as flora and fauna that were protected in Botswana.

In her welcoming remarks, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe said when the caucus was fully established, it would be reflective of their commitment and the role they play as MPs and stewards of natural resources. She said BOCOPAC would join the existing five parliamentary conservation caucuses in Africa, which include Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia. The Kenyan caucas was launched in 2012 and it consists of 50 MPs as members.

She urged BOCOPAC members to utilise the existing caucuses and to learn from them, as that would ease their work and enable them to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

Ms  Kokorwe said the BOCOPAC strategy plan of 2016-2021 would give MPs the platform and vigour to actively engage on issues of conservation, especially given the type of vegetation that prevails in Botswana. 

Proposing a vote of thanks, the MP for Kgalagadi North, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi, who is the chairperson of the Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change committee in Parliament, said the presence of the Vice President and the Speaker of the National Assembly was testimony to the commitment of the political will to the caucus. 

He said as members of BOCOPAC, they would work to the best of their capabilities.

The launch was also attended by the Zambian Minister of Muchinga Province, Mr Mwimba Malama, Southern African Regional Environment Programme and International Conservation Caucus representatives, cabinet ministers and MPs. Ends