01 Jul 2013

Poaching continues to go unabated in Chobe, despite concerted efforts by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and other law enforcement agencies to combat it, the district’s council chairperson has said.

Officially opening the full council meeting, Councillor Mwanota Kachana said in the past two months, four poaching incidents were detected including two elephants, one buffalo and a zebra.

Mr Kachana said a total of 59 wire snares were removed in the district of which 17 were along the Chobe River and 42 in Pandamatenga area. “This development is disturbing as it might impact negatively on our wildlife resources hence affect the tourism industry as it is wildlife driven,” Cllr Kachana said.

On other news, the chairman expressed concern at the late delivery of items by suppliers in the district. He added that council had taken measures to warn the suppliers but called on fellow councillors to assist.

“This should not be the mandate of officers only, we should be seen as leaders who take keen interest on our electorates and advise them through kgotla meetings to adhere to the set standards.”

While the council chair was pleased with poverty eradication beneficiaries’ improvement, he was however disappointed with some projects such as bakeries, which were experiencing lack of commitment and general teething problems. He said it was mainly due to beneficiaries’ reluctance to work in groups.

He urged councillors to encourage electorates to take the programmes seriously as they could impact positively on their socio-economic status. The council chairperson encouraged those who had been allocated plots using State Land Integrated Management System (SLIMS) to desist from the temptation of selling them because that would defeat government’s agenda of empowering them.

“Most importantly the beneficiaries must realise that the plots are highly subsidised with a view to make them affordable. “ He noted. Cllr Kachana also announced that Chobe council was in the process of carrying out a valuation exercise and had now been empowered through the Township Act to collect property rates from Kasane township.

As such, he urged members of the community to get prepared for the exercise, which will start first with commercial and industrial properties. ENDS