16 Sep 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has dismissed reports that poaching has increased in the country due to government’s decision to disarm the anti-poaching unit.

Following the reports, which went viral on social media, he said government conducted an investigation whose findings revealed that the reports were baseless and untrue.

President Masisi told a kgotla meeting in Maun last week that even some researchers’ findings had confirmed that the reports were untrue.

The reports stated that dozens of elephants’ carcasses had been found near a wildlife protected sanctuary and that poaching had increased due to the government not allowing the anti-poaching unit to have guns.

President Masisi noted that the investigations indicated that there was no poaching in the said area, which is next to the borders, adding that the area was under the custody of the Botswana Defence Force, which is ‘the most successful army in anti-poaching.

He said even poachers were aware that the country had a strong anti-poaching unit and he also refuted allegations that the officers were disarmed.

He said the officers had guns since no country tolerated poaching, adding “all our borders are mannered by trained personnel from the army and it is international normal practice that territorial boundaries are preserved by military personnel.

There is no association because the army is well equipped and well postured to respond”.

President Masisi also pointed out that the truth should be respected, stressing that Botswana’s wildlife was not in any more danger since ghovernment had deployed resources to protect its fauna and flora more than any other country in the world.

Although, he appreciated that the number of elephants had increased significantly, he informed Maun residents that government would consult with them on what should be done.

He cited the on-going consultation on the review of the hunting ban, particularly on elephants, noting it would give them an opportunity to an input before a decision is made.

The ban was introduced in 2014 and people had been calling on the government to lift it, as the wildlife, especially the elephant population, had grown impoverishing them.

They complained that the elephants were posing a serious danger to their lives and property and called on the government to reduce the population by culling  them.

Responding to the issue of culling, the President said they would look into the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) procedures, to see how best to manage elephants.

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama concurred with the President, they had tasked a committee to conduct the exercise and compile a report which would be used to map the way forward.

He expressed concern about the growing conflict between humans and wildlife, particularly elephants, which destroy crops and endanger people’s lives. ENDS