14 Dec 2016

North West District councillors have resolved to send a delegation to meet the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama to present their concerns regarding delay of issuance of leases to community trusts.

The resolution followed countless efforts made by the council through a motion to invite the minister to address them regarding the issues.

They delegation of six councillors would be led by the council chairperson, Mr Reaboka Mbulawa.

In the last session, councillors expressed their displeasure when the minister failed to show up and sent his deputy permanent secretary who admitted that there was a delay as initially lease for concessions were supposed to be issued by the department of land after a decision by the government to introduce tourism land bank.

The explanation by the deputy permanent secretary did not go down well with the political leaders as they insisted that the minister should come and consult the communities to solicit their input before the implementation of the new arrangement.

They said the issue was sensitive and required the minister himself. Some councillors felt the arrangement would disadvantage the trusts and the communities to benefit from their concessions as the government wants to control prime tourism in the Okavango Delta.

However, when making the resolution, some councillors noted that they minister had failed to honour their invitation several times and believed that sending a delegation to present their concerns would be ideal as they would be in a position to share the information with their communities so that they could appreciate the delay.

Some councillors suggested that a delegation be sent to the Office of the President to seek the President intervention on the matter but the resolution was made through voting of which the majority argued that the council should follow the procedure of channel of communication before it could take up the issue with the highest office. ENDS