16 Sep 2018

Government departments recently took their services to people residing at a grass cutting camp, near Nata.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Rebagamang Rancholo of Nata appreciated the departments’ efforts saying many residents did not have access to the services due to their overstay at the camp.

He stated that over 300 people lived at the camp with their children and some failed to reach Nata for services due to transport challenges. 

Nata bye-law enforcement officer, Ms Shirley Mathafeni, called on the camp residents to handle waste properly to avoid fines and to ensure a healthy environment. 

She encouraged them to refrain from making loud noise at the camp and to comply with liquor regulations.  

Meanwhile, Tutume Forestry and Range Resources Nursery manager, Mr Moroka Tatshwaane, encouraged residents to renew their grass cutting licences, which are valid for a month, to avoid a fine not exceeding P1 000.

He also urged them to be friendly to the environment since  there were charges for those who did not comply with the law, adding that starting veld fires could attract a fine of P1 000 or strokes. 

Moreover, Mr Tatshwaane said bartering of thatching grass for food was not allowed in Botswana.  

He also warned them to be careful of how they transported natural resources around the country as some could transfer diseases from one place to another.

Nata Primary School teacher, Ms Emily Chokwe, said they encountered challenges during grass cutting periods such as absenteeism. 

She said some pupils were left behind without any support, while some parents did not even visit their children at the village to see how they were coping. 

Ms Chokwe said negligence led to uncleanness which also affected the school’s performance.

And, Sua Junior Secondary School teacher, Mr Charles Masiku, said during the grass cutting period last year, they lost a student, who was involved in an accident while driving a donkey cart departing from Nata 17km grass camp. 

He said during weekends, a many students travelled from and to the camp. 

And some failed to return leading to school dropouts, adding that some elderly people sexually harassed students during grass cutting period since they were mostly home alone.

Nata wildlife and national parks senior wildlife warden, Mr Emmanuel Jeremiah, urged the camp residents to learn to live with wild animals as they cut grass in the wild. 

He said they should avoid interaction with animals such as elephants as they see people as intruders.

Mr Jeremiah cautioned people against hunting and trapping animals, adding that some people fished without licences. 

He urged them to notify relevant offices when they come across elephant tusks than to attempt to sell them. 

More importantly, he said they had programmes aimed at improving Batswana’s livelihoods and created employment for others such as rearing of guinea fowls and game ranching. 

Lastly, he said Botswana’s vultures were facing extinction, largely due to poisoning therefore people should use safer pesticides and less poisonous medications which would not be harmful to the vultures. 

Tutume DHMT Health nutrition officer, Ms Lucky Kegomoditswe encouraged mothers to eat healthy when pregnant and not consume alcohol and drugs as they affected the development of the foetus. ENDS