07 Feb 2019

Residents of Khumaga in the Boteti Sub-district have been urged to reach a common understanding on installation of Makgadikgadi game proof electric fence.

Addresing a kgotla meeting in  the village recently,  the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism Mr Kitso Mokaila implored residents to take a decision that would enable progress and forget about the past.

Minister Mokaila admitted that government made a mistake by proceeding with fence installation without reaching an agreement with the community.

He assured residents that further consultations would be made.

Government, he said, had decided to install a 106km kilometre game proof electric fence from Moremaoto to Sookwane on the side of the village because it was realised that if it was installed on the side of the park, animals would break the fence to gain entry into the river.

On other issues, Mr Mokaila said government had proposed to install 16 boreholes for livestock, erect cattle crushes for local farmers and develop Ngande Trust.

He said government had disbursed P500 000 to establish a cultural village in Khumaga and another P500 000 to put up a campsite at Addresing kgotla meeting in Khumaga Moremaoto.

He stated that Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) had been revived to fight human/wildlife conflict.

For example, he said that “an animal that kills a person should be killed through director’s instruction.”

He acknowledged that the Animal Control Office took too long to address cases due to shortage of transport. So far there was a backlog of 1 340 cases because there was only one vehicle.

A resident, Mr Legong Shana complained about lack of consultattion saying he was not aware of game proof fence installation until it passed through his field.

Mr Kebathokile Mmolawa also expressed concern that the fence was erected without consultation and wondered how elephant movement would be controlled in the area.

Chairperson of the fence committee, Mr Hendrick Radijo said they had petitioned government regarding the fence but had up to now received no response.

Mr Radijo said another concern was shortage of land expressing the fear that the fence would deny them access to the river and ultimately their livestock would suffer.

In addition, Mr Radijo said the community would be denied  the  opportunity to enjoy natural resources from the river such as sand, fish and tswii.

Mr Radijo wondered how government would supply their livestock given that Water Utilities Corporation was failing.

The area councilor, Mr Thomas Kgethenyane said he had the impression that the fence would be deferred since the minister admitted that government erred on the issue. Ends