23 Mar 2022

In an effort to resolve the impasse between Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) concerned group and CECT board of trustees, Chobe district leadership has requested the district commissioner to convene an urgent meeting between the concerned parties for mediation. 

Tension has been brewing between the two parties, with the concerned group accusing board of trustees of maladministration. 

However, the district leadership in a recent meeting summoned by Chobe MP Mr Machana Shamukuni, resolved that Chobe District Commissioner (DC), Ms Sekgabo Makgosa should call an urgent meeting which will also feature the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for arbitration. 

The Chobe leadership meeting also resolved that DC and CECT board should write an assurance letter to SV Safaris, a company that won the CECT 2022 hunting quota, to the effect that the current conflicts should not cause any inconveniences for the company. 

Additionally, the leaders resolved that law enforcement officers should be alerted of the possible forced take-over of CECT offices by interim committee appointed during a special general meeting addressed by concerned group. 

Prior to making the resolutions, Ms Makgosa informed the meeting that disposal of 2022 hunting quota rubbed some residents the wrong way who then wrote to her office suggesting that all processes in relation to the quota should be halted until their grievances were addressed. 

Ms Makgosa explained that her office obliged and wrote to CECT board to suspend the hunting quota disposal activities to allow for investigations of the tender. 

“In response, the board expressed their fear of losing the quota should there be any delays and my office wrote back to the concerned group highlighting the same fears. 

We also advised them that if they are not satisfied with bidding process they should escalate the matter to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT),”she explained. 

Surprisingly, the DC said while she was awaiting the outcome of the concerned group’s appeal from the ministry she received an invitation for a CECT special general meeting convened by the group. 

According to the invitation, she said the agenda was a vote of no confidence on the CECT Board, the appointment of an interim committee and the review of the 2022 hunting quota. 

Giving a TAC report that detailed the process that led to the disposal of the quota, TAC secretary, Mr Buzwani Maika said CECT board addressed a series of kgotla meetings in the five villages on two occasions to consult on the disposal of the quota. 

He said after consultations, the board resolved to dispose the quota using joint venture agreement or sublease since three out of the five villages preferred the method. 

“A competitive bidding notice was released on November 17, 21 inviting tenderers in the Community Hunting Area 1 (CH1) for five years,” he noted. 

He explained that the tender documents were opened on January 12, 2022 and evaluated as per the tender guidelines. 

Mr Maika said SV Safaris scored 93.3 per cent, Ethakalu Adventure Safaris scored 79.8 per cent while Ruendo Safaris 75 per cent and the tender adjudication board awarded the tender to SV Safaris. 

He further explained to the leadership that TAC did not attend the March 12 meeting which resulted in the election of the interim committee. 

This he said was because TAC regarded the meeting unconstitutional as the notice was not served to individual CECT trustees specifying the date, place, time and details of the agenda as per Section 11.2 of CECT constitution. 

Mr Maika said the notice of the meeting was not published on the notice boards of the member villages 30 days before the date of the meeting as the constitution dictates. 

“Additionally the concerned group did not exhaust the process of arbitration because they did not heed the advice of the DC to appeal to the minister,” he said adding that the leadership should therefore disregard the decisions made by the concerned group on March 12. 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr Shamukuni noted his concern about the news surrounding CECT hence the leadership meeting. 

“As leaders you are custodians of peace and good governance and that is why I plead with you to give this issue an utmost attention as it threatens peace, good governance and stability in our district,” lamented the MP Mr Shamukuni advised all to abide by the law, adding that people’s judgment should not be clouded by conflict of interest. 

The MP noted that he wondered why some people could deploy their resources to mobilise the community against the decision of the majority. 

During comments, there was a consensus by dikgosi of the five villages that the report by TAC reflected the truth of what transpired prior to disposing the quota. 

All dikgosi who commented were worried that the concerned group mobilised their community for the March 12 meeting without the knowledge of the tribal leadership and some people were made to sign petition without explanation of what it was about. 

They also raised fear that the actions of the concerned group could cause divisions within the community. Ends