18 Dec 2019

The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng says the Nkange Constituency has high incidences of human-wildlife conflict caused by elephants and lions.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Ms Kereng noted that elephants destroyed fences, crops and water installations, while lions and other predators killed livestock.

She said currently, there were 114 farmers owed by government in the Nkange constituency at the amount of P461 527.

She also stated that the ministry was not aware of any other farmers who were still owed before October 2018 as the ministry was currently paying farmers who were owed from November 2018.

Ms Kereng said efforts were being made to expedite the clearance of the compensation backlog before the end of the current financial year.

Also, she said a wildlife base camp had been established at Xhabuke next to Nkange village where officers from different wildlife stations had been deployed to assist farmers daily on problem animal control.

She said workshops were held to sensitise farmers on human-wildlife conflict issues and on the use of chilli pepper to deter elephants from damaging water installations.

The minister noted that all the villages in the Nkange constituency had formed Elephant and Lion Control committees which worked hand in hand with wildlife offices to sensitise communities on Problem Animal Control issues.

She was answering a question from the Nkange MP Dr Never Tshabang who asked the minister if she was aware of some people who were still owed compensation for their ploughing fields that were destroyed by wild animals in the Nkange Constituency.  

The MP also wanted to know when the government would compensate these farmers as well as any permanent or temporary plans by to help the farmers this year to return to their farms and fields and resume farming. ENDS