20 Oct 2019

 Residents of Kumaga and surrounding settlements have been warned against eating meat from dead elephants found in their areas as there were suspicions that the animals might have died from anthrax disease.

The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila warned residents during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Kumaga on October 18.

The minister was responding to some residents’ concerns about a high number of elephants dying because of the drying up of water sources.

He explained that samples had been taken for testing.

The minister noted that water sources were drying but stated that there were boreholes, some of which had been closed because the Boteti River was flooded by then. He assured residents the boreholes would be revived including some in the park vicinity as they wanted to prevent wildlife and livestock drinking from same sources.

Mr Mokaila pointed out that currently, they had recorded 1 225 cases of wildlife which had damaged residents’ fields and other properties and they wanted to reduce the impact.

He also informed residents that the ministry had secured funds and was currently working on the tender for the boreholes, noting that the intention was to engage Moreomaoto and Ngande community trusts to look after them upon their completion.

He said in 2004, they had panels which were stolen and stressed that this time, they intended to capacitate the trusts to be the custodian of the boreholes.

Mr Mokaila said the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) unit would visit the affected villages to conduct the training.

Earlier on, Kgosi Keeditse Orapeleng of Kumaga complained about the drying up of Boteti River which he said was the source of the community’s livelihoods.

The river, he said, was also the only source of water for livestock and wildlife but stated that currently the animals were dying because of thirst.

Kgosi Orapeleng also said they had long been promised street lights in the village and asked when the project would start, noting that residents’ lives were in danger at night because of roaming wildlife.

The tribal leader decried high rate of crime in the village, saying the police were unable to attend incidents on time because of shortage of transport.

Meanwhile, Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Oeditsemang Motsamai raised a concern about the delay in land allocation at phase 2. He said the land board had demarcated plots two years back but to date there were no allocations.

Mr Motsamai complained about shortage of accommodation for public servants, vehicles for departments such as veterinary and clinic, lack of internet connectivity at the primary school and called for expansion of administration block at the school.

Responding to some of the comments, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele said the ministry had planned to allocate three vehicles to Boteti District Health Management Team (DHMT) for distribution to areas in need.

Regarding crime, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi admitted that shortage of transport was a serious challenge in police service centres.

He explained that they had clustered villages and allocated one vehicle per cluster, adding that at times, it was difficult to attend on reports on time due to the distance and the vastnesss of the area.

Minister Kgathi however assured residents that when funds permit, they would consider purchasing one more vehicle.

Mr Kgathi also concurred that crime was high in the area, citing the disturbing incidents of rape and livestock theft, which he said were leading in the area.

He pointed out that in 2017, Rakops police station recorded 19 cases of rape, in 2018 they were reduced to 17, while by the end of July this year, 12 rape incidents were already recorded.

The minister urged the perpetrators to stop the crime, saying rape was inhumane.

He also stated that livestock theft was worrisome as the police had recorded 25 cases between the beginning of the year and end of July. 

He noted that last year 51 cases were recorded, while in 2017 the cases stood at 60. ENDS