02 May 2017

The Poverty Eradication Coordinator in the Office of the President, Ms Bernadette Malala has called for a proper consultation on the Fishing Marketing Cooperatives.

Ms Malala said the disgruntlement from some Ngami community members should not be overlooked. She was speaking at a Lake Ngami workshop in Maun.

She said there was a misconception during the formation of the Fishing Marketing Cooperatives - Sehithwa.

“It was a mistake that consultative meetings were not held in all affected villages to inform the people that the cooperative was formed to address the lack of market for fish,” she said.

However, Ms Malala said her understanding was that the communities had a problem with the conceptualisation of the Fishing Marketing Cooperative, but not its purpose.

She advised that the best way forward was to correct the mistake instead of defending it.

Ms Malala said the relevant leadership should go back to the communities and inform them about the cooperative and its benefits. She added that roles could then be allocated among the three bodies at Lake

Ngami being the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust, the Fishing Marketing Cooperatives-Sehithwa and the Fishery Association - Sehithwa as agreed by the workshop attendants.

She noted that all the three groups were significant, and that there should not be an issue on who led as they were all concerned about community development.

The area councillor, Mr Morafemong Matsimanyane also stressed the need for the Fishing Marketing Cooperative - Sehithwa to be addressed and for it to include all communities.

He said the communities would not recognise the cooperative until proper consultations were done.ENDS