04 Apr 2017

Kgosi Toteng Ndzonga of Nkange has appealed for public education on wild animals in order to address human/wildlife conflict.

He made the call at an emergency meeting addressed by MP for the area, Mr Edwin Batshu.

Following a recent incident in which a student was attacked by an elephant on his way to school in the morning, Kgosi Ndzonga noted that the reaction of the public with some screaming and hooting made the beast aggressive.

He therefore appealed for public education, noting that with the current situation in which the animals are seen everywhere and people come into contact with them they should however be sensitised on how to behave when they come into contact with them.

Further, he pointed out that because of late they are no longer only seen far from people’s residences, particularly during this time of the harvest season at the fields, it is imperative for people to understand that wildlife is now part of their daily activities and as such they can come in contact with them at any given time of the day.

In addition, he urged the community to desist from walking at night and in the early hours of the morning, noting that these are the times that the animals pass through the village, hence crossing their path is dangerous.

He also asked parents to accompany their children to school, particularly those who are travelling a long distance to school since there is only one junior secondary school catering for the villages of Changate, Senete and Nkange.

He nonetheless informed the MP that following the attack on the student, at a meeting he called for all stakeholders in the village, they have agreed with school leadership to adjust times of starting school, which he said the school management agreed to and the school starts at 0730 and ends at 1530 in the afternoon.

In his comments, MP Mr Batshu, who had called the meeting to get an update on the situation of elephants in the area, said at this time when there is a crisis stakeholders’ collaboration is crucial to deal with the situation so that fatalities can be avoided.

Mr Batshu added that following the reports that reached him while at Parliament called for the government to issue some directive to government departments and law enforcement units to come on board and help stabilise the situation and protect the community from wildlife attacks.

Mr Batshu emphasised that it is not time for anyone to point an accusing finger.

“These animals are part of us and we should however find means of living with them while protecting our lives and produce, hence teams are placed to drive them away,” he said.

He said the arrangement would continue until the situation has improved.

Present at the meeting was representatives from law enforcement teams Botswana Defence Force and Botswana Police placed at the areas as well as wildlife department officers. ENDS