20 Jun 2016

Brigadier Benjamin Masunga of the 2 Infantry Brigade has applauded government for fighting poaching.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of air patrol vehicle pilots and technicians course on June 17, Brigadier Masunga said tourism was significant to the economy.

He said by purchasing the air patrol aircrafts and training of the pilots and technicians,  government showed its commitment to the fight against poaching.

Brigadier Masunga explained that participants from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service (BPS) and Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) were trained in operating the patrol aircrafts in order to enhance information sharing.

He said pilots were expected to  have accumulated 50 hours at the completion of the course. 

The BDF, Brigadier Masunga said, was responsible for patrolling the eastern and northern parts that included Chobe and Ngami areas, BPS was responsible for the Central Kalahari Game Reserve while the DWNP patroled the Kalahari Trans frontier and the Mabuasehube Game Reserve.

BPS deputy divisional commander, Assistant Commissioner Seabe Maboka said the aircrafts would not only fight poaching, but will also assist in curbing cross border crime.

He thanked manufacturers of the aircrafts for inducting the pilots and technicians in the operation and minor maintenance of the aircrafts. The director of Micro Aviation from Nelspruit in South Africa, manufacturer of the aircrafts known as Bat Hawk, Mr Terry Pappas commended Botswana for preserving wildlife.

Mr Pappas said the preservation of wildlife did not only boast the economy of Botswana but benefited the world as a whole.

He said while hundreds of the Bat Hawk aircrafts were operational in Botswana, it was the first time that 14 of the aircrafts were procured at the same time.

A total of 10 pilots and technicians from BDF and BPS were awarded with certificates. ENDS