27 Apr 2021

Given their potential to create jobs and better the economy, community trusts remain valuable players in the economy and government recognises their significance.

Addressing the village leadership in Manxotae on Monday, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng said the ministry had devised ways to assist trusts and such was inclusive of training sessions, to help them manage the establishments better.

Ms Kereng said the ministry had a plan on how it intended to help Nata Bird Sanctuary remain afloat and sustainable during the time when the tourism industry was faced with challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Ms Kereng said the ministry established a plan on elephant management, which outlined how best communities living in areas with large herds could benefit from having them instead of animals only being a menace to communities.

“We want to see the economies of these areas flourish as a result of benefits derived from having the animals in the area,” she said.

Ms Kereng challenged farmers to engage in agro-tourism businesses so that they too could benefit like those in tourism.

Kgosi Pelotshweu Mokgadi of Manxotae had earlier on pleaded with the minister for financial aid to help Nata Conservation Trust remain afloat.

He said COVID-19 had financially dented Nata Bird Sanctuary, which was the main revenue earner for the trust.

Kgosi Mokgadi said the trust had been partly relying on other organisations who supported it, for funds to pay employees, adding that COVID-19 made it difficult for such organisations to continue the support.

He requested that at least they be given a hunting quota, particularly for animals such as elephants that troubled the community throughout the year.

He proposed that once the hunting season commenced, the areas should be listed among places where hunting should take place since they had many animals that tended to threaten the community members’ lives, noting that hunting might help scare them away from the villages. ENDS