16 Mar 2022

Residents of the five villages forming the Chobe Enclave have appointed an interim board of trustees after passing a motion of no confidence on the existing board.

In a special general meeting that was convened by concerned members of the five villages on March 12 in Kachikau, attendees resolved to dissolve the board for failing to consult residents prior to making major decisions.

One of the members of the Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT), Attorney Sinvula Isaac said the board failed to consult residents on the disposal of the 2022 hunting quota.

He said the board sold the quota without the knowledge of the community as specified in the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy.

Mr Isaac said apart from consulting the community, who were the owners of the trust, the board disadvantaged the community by choosing a joint venture agreement.

He noted that a joint venture agreement entailed a community sub-leasing sections of their hunting area or natural resources to a private company and that there was little or no management capacity or leadership by the community.

He said after the quota was advertised some community members petitioned the district commissioner, but that he did not act because the same tender was opened on January 12.

He further noted that residents of the five villages wrote a letter that was signed by over 300 community members requesting the district commissioner to convene a special general meeting so that the issue could be ironed out, but that the efforts did not bear any fruit leading to the meeting that was held in Kachikau on March 12.

A community member, Mr Bobby Setlhare said the board did not carry out the will of the community and supported the vote of no confidence.

Another resident, Mr Johnson Mabuta suggested that the 2022 hunting quota should be suspended until the matter was resolved while Mr Mwanota Kachana said he supported the voting in of an interim committee as the meeting was legitimate.

Mr Simasiku Matengu said it was disheartening that issues of maladministration in the running of trusts was becoming a common phenomenon.

He urged all stakeholders to put aside their political interests and differences when discussing community interests.

In an interview CECT chairperson, Mr Poniso Shamukuni said the March 12 meeting was considered by the board, the technical advisory committee (TAC) and the board attorney as unconstitutional hence his non-attendance.

Mr Shamukuni said while the 2022 hunting quota could not be discussed in detail during the annual general meeting last year because the board was awaiting advice from the technical committee, a series of kgotla meetings in the five villages were addressed by the board to consult communities 

He said residents of the five villages were satisfied with how the board wanted to dispose the quota.

He also said the tendering process was not done by the board but the technical advisory committee by following the tendering guidelines.

The CECT constitution provides that “a special general meeting may be convened by the chairperson of the board" or that a written request by three members of the board or a written request signed by at least 10 general members for the purpose of considering a specific question, including consideration of resources management issues or motions for amendment of the deed of trust or of the resources governance bye laws, or the expulsion of a trustee or for the dissolution of the trust.

Chobe district commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa acknowledged that her office received a letter of complaint regarding the disposal of the hunting quota.

She said she advised the authors to escalate the matter to the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism as per the notarial deed of trusts.

She said she could not attend the March 12 meeting because the objective of the meeting was to discuss the hunting quota.

She said she felt her office was conflicted, hence the need for intervention by a third party. ENDS