06 Apr 2022

The envisaged constitution should compel the government to be better involved in bargaining processes for the rights of safari employees, says Mr Cosmos Daniel.

Mr Daniel, who spoke on behalf of the Okavango Community Trust, said this during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry in Seronga on April 5.

“Unions must be mooted for safari employees with a view to them ultimately managing and/or having a substantial stake in safari companies,” he said adding, the development would also have snow-balling effect in terms of employment creation for the local community. The status quo, which he said was skewed towards foreigners must change immediately.

“Foreign employees working for safari companies are paid more than locals and such inconsistency can only be addressed through improved statutory laws,” he said without mincing his words. Mr Daniel called for the establishment of constitutionally recognised joint venture partnership guidelines to ensure communities benefitted more from such synergies.

Such guidelines, he suggested, must be skewed in favour of local communities. He said unavailability of such guiding principles was the reason many trust that had entered into agreement with safari operators were always the powerless, financially exploited underdog.

Also important in as far as Mr Daniel was concerned was the establishment of a human-wildlife conflict act that would deal holistically with all matters arising from damages or suffering caused by wild animals. ENDS