15 May 2019

Ngamiland leadership has raised a concern about inadequate resources allocated to the district, despite it being the leader in fire outbreaks.

They said maintenance of fire breaks was a major challenge, adding that last year, no fire breaks in the district were maintained.

They expressed their concern during the ongoing national fire management conference, saying inadequate resources frustrated their efforts to mobilise the community to play an effective role in fire management.

They appreciated that a lot of efforts had been put into building capacity at all levels, both within the district and across the country, with the help of international partners and donor agencies.

Maun Administration Authority deputy district commissioner, Ms Goitseone Nkwe-Tabane appealed to the relevant ministry to consider providing enough resources to easily mobilise the community on time to manage fire outbreaks in the district.

She said Ngamiland was peripheral and at the far end of the country, hence it should be given attention as far as transport was concerned.

Kgosi Oateng Sethodi also decried the poor maintenance of fire breaks, noting that the fire break at Samedupi settlement near Maun had been neglected for long.

They said there were areas that experienced more fire outbreaks, but the department failed to state the intensity and frequency of occurrence.

Tsodilo Development Trust chairperson, Mr Boo Xoma concurred that lack of funds to maintain fire breaks around Tsodilo before fire season was a challenge and that there was no suitable vehicle to load the water bowser donated by UNDP during fire suppression, adding that they depended on assistance from government vehicles.

He shared the history of bush fires in Tsodilo Enclave, which comprises of settlements and villages such as Tsodilo, Chukumuchu, Nxamasere, and Ghani, stating that the area experienced three major fire outbreaks per season on average.

The peak of the bush fire season normally occurs during September and October.

He mentioned some of the causes such as escaped fires, lightning and cross border fires.

He explained that escaped fires occurred due to human activities such as clearing of crop fields.

Mr Xoma also revealed that some of the bush fires that threaten Tsodilo World Heritage site originated from outside the country.

He said the community played  a vital role in fire management, adding that the goal of the trust was to have a successful long-term management of the Tsodilo Heritage Site through equitable benefits-sharing and suitable management of the area.

“Tsodilo community members play a vital role in the management of bush fires because whenever there are fire outbreaks, they always inform the trust, Tsodilo Site Museum and the relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Forestry and Range Resources,” he added.

The chairperson also pointed out that the community used to extinguish veldt fire outbreaks using tree branches, but now fire beaters, which are more effective, are available.

Mr Xoma also appreciated support from the Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management Project implemented by UNDP, noting that through the project, they received a donation of fire-fighting equipment and some protective clothing for effective control of veldt fire outbreaks.

Members of the community were also trained on wild land fires suppression techniques.

He also pointed out that the community trust constructed fire breaks around Tsodilo Site management area fence to prevent fire spread to protect the hills. ENDS