29 May 2017

Permanent secretary in the ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Jimmy Opelo says it is not true that the hunting ban, which has been going on for some time now, has suffocated community conservation trusts financially.

Appearing before the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session, Mr Opelo said figures had shown that community trusts continue to do better even without the inclusion of hunting rights quota.

He explained that the trusts only suffered a slight decline in revenues at the initial execution of the ban, but they have since risen to the occasion.

Mr Opelo noted that as a ministry mandated with the mammoth task of ensuring the growth of tourism sector and a safe environment, they were committed to guiding and aiding community trusts so that they could reach a level where they would one day be able to sustainably and economically run their trusts like any other viable business entity.

He however applauded some community trusts such as Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) and Sankoyo Community Trust for their sterling performance and achievements they had made and continue to, a development he said could be emulated by others in other regions for self-sustenance and creation of jobs in their localities. 

In the meantime, Mr Opelo said the country was coming up with modalities to reduce leakages of tourism revenues as most tourists booked hotels and lodges from the outside.

He said efforts were being made to have a regional booking hub other than continuing booking from Europe.

He however said it would entail a lot of work as tourists had to earn the region’s trusts in running the tourism sector.

Mr Opelo was reacting to concerns raised by MP Bogolo Kenewendo, who had wanted to know what the ministry was doing to curb this disturbing trend, where the country end up receiving only 25 per cent of tourism revenues while the rest remains outside.

On other issues, Mr Opelo said the ministry was unable to carry out some of developments projects due to various reasons, noting that two major projects, which were to be undertaken, had since stalled because contractors had taken the ministry to the courts for adjudication. 

With regards to the issue of paying community members for putting out veldt fires, Mr Opelo  said it is still a burning issue, which was being discussed by the ministry and community as well as other stakeholders.

He however said the issue was dicey as people may take advantage of the situation should payment be made for putting out such fires.

Responding to MP Polson Majaga’s concern that the ministry should once a year, especially during Independence Day celebration, provide some wild game to communities living within wildlife management areas to feast on as a sign of co-existence and royalty, he said the ministry would look into the request, but would have to conform whether the numbers of such animals would not be threatened.   

On another issue, he said the ban of export of dried fish was imposed after the country learnt that it was losing out on revenues while fish mongers in importing countries were benefiting.

He said the idea was to come up with better modalities that would benefit all.

Responding to MP Ndaba Gaolathe’s concern on why the ministry bought a corporate aircraft, Mr Opelo said the airplane was precisely bought to perform multi-tasks such as transporting officers to an emergency situation such as where there could have been wild fire spotted or transporting them on an anti-poaching mission, among others.

He said the aircraft could speed up the time taken by officers to reach their various destinations, adding that it could also be used by other ministries. ENDS