03 May 2021

The chairperson of Pandamatenga, Lesoma, Kazungula (PALEKA) Community Trust, Mr Gabriel Musindo says the trust is doing well apart from a few logistical challenges.

Speaking during a consultative meeting addressed by Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni, Mr Musindo said during the 2020 hunting season PALEKA sold its hunting quota to the tune of P7 million to a professional hunter.

He explained that since hunting was suspended due to COVID-19 it was only this year that the hunter was on site.

Mr Musindo said the trust made a fixed deposit of P6 million and used the other P1 million to buy a vehicle, tents, GPS and uniform for its 10 guides.

He said the trust agreed with the hunter that he would only get trophy from the 12 elephants and would give each PALEKA village the carcasses to be shared by the community.

On other developments, Mr Musindo commended the Chobe Land Board for its support towards the trust. He explained that the trust was allocated a 2 600 hectare of land and it was planning to subdivide 2 000 hectares into 500 hectares and lease to commercial farmers. He said the remaining 600 hectares would be sublet to members of PALEKA communities on an annual basis.

He, however, said since the commercial hunter complained that the area in which he was to hunt was too small, the trust had resolved that 2 600 hectares could augment the hunting area.

Still on achievements, Mr Musindo said since the trust had no office, it resolved to rent a VDC house at Lesoma for a period of 12 months at P1 000 monthly.

Concerning challenges, Mr Musindo said the office was still not operational due to lack of a manager. He, however, said due to financial constraints the trust intended to employ a candidate who would serve as a manager.

Furthermore, he said the trust would also engage a cleaner and a temporary driver. Mr Musindo said currently the trust executed the duties of the manager/accountant; a move that was risky as the members had no expertise.

Chobe Land Board chairperson, Mr Johane Chenjekwa implored the trust to fully understand the legal implications of leasing the 2 600 hectare field before signing any binding documents.

Mr Chenjekwa also advised the trust to engage the community prior to subletting in  order to get their views on the issue and to consider if the P12 000 annual rental was sustainable or if it was better to apply for a plot and build.

Chobe District Council chairperson, Mr Amos Mabuku applauded the trust for a job well done. He urged the trust to always be guided by the Community Based Resource Management (CBRM) Policy and the trust’s constitution.

For his part, MP Shamukuni appreciated the presentation by the PALEKA trust, saying it showed that the members were determined to generate income for the development of their communities.

He said the three trusts in Chobe, being PALEKA, Seboba and Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT) should be partners in development and fill in the gap where government could not reach.

The MP encouraged the trust to draw up a budget at the beginning of every year for all activities and to follow the plan. ENDS