13 Jun 2018

 Government has paid P36.2million to farmers country wide as compensation  in the last three financial years.

Responding to a parliamentary question on Monday, the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said during the 2015/16 financial year an amount of P8.8 million was disbursed as compensation, P4.4million in 2016/17  while P23 million was paid to farmers in 2017/18.

Mr Khama said Tutume Wildlife office disbursed P211 754.50, P349 989.30 and  P885 269. 15 in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 respectively

The minister said 365 cases of elephants damages in ploughing fields were reported in Maitengwe, Nkange, Seneta and Tutume villages between January and April 2018.

The Member of Parliament for Nkange Mr Edwin Batshu, had asked the minister to state the amount  spent in compensation of farmers for damages caused by wild animals during the financial years 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/19 and to state the amount spent  by Tutume Wildlife office in the same period. Mr Batshu also wanted to know the number of cases of elephant damages in ploughing fields reported at  Tutume Wildlife office by farmers in Maitengwe, Nkange, Senete and Tutume villages between January and April 2018. ENDS