20 Nov 2018

Parliament has been informed that of the 100 senior wildlife II posts, 65 posts were filled while the remaining posts were upgraded to create 16 posts at C4/3/2/1 level, to enable appointment of supervisors who would provide on the job training to new recruits, in the field.

Answering a question in Parliament from the MP for Nkange Mr Edwin Batshu on November 19, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama said 16 posts were filled through promotion of serving employees who vacated B1 posts. T

he ministry therefore offered 16 more recruits to complete the circle, he said. He said the recruited officers underwent training in problem animal control techniques and had subsequently been posted to stations in conflict hotspot area.

The ministry was in the process of procuring additional resources including vehicles to ensure that all PAC staff were adequately resourced to respond to requests for assistance from those affected by human-wildlife conflict.

MP Batshu had asked whether the ministry had filled the 100 additional posts for wildlife officers that were approved last year; and why there was still poor visibility of wildlife officers in areas prone to human/wildlife conflict as well as poor response to reports. ENDS