07 Apr 2022

Okavango Livestock Farmers Association has proposed that the constitution provide for establishment of health animal and livestock marketing commissions.

Presenting farmers views before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution, Mr Ndikiza Katjimune stated that both commissions would safeguard the interests of producers of livestock and other people trading in livestock and its products.

The health animal commission, he said, should comprise a chairperson, who shall be a veterinary doctor specialising in epidemiology, a pharmacologist, an entomologist, a judge, a biologist, an animal scientist and a journalist who shall all be appointed by Parliament with recommendations from their organisations or boards.

The said commission, he said would be responsible for disease control, planning, protection, directing and conducting studies on issues of livestock.

The livestock marketing commission, he said should also be appointed by Parliament and  it should be chaired by a marketing specialist, a hygiene specialist, a biologist an animal scientist, an economist, a judge and a journalist, who shall perform public relations roles.

Mr Katjimune noted that the commission would have the general duty of examining, and recommending improvements in the marketing of livestock and its products.

“This commission can help in marketing the country’s beef, meat products, hooves, skins and blood as well as looking for investors in leather industry and blood for polish,” he added.

He also stated that the commission would also do the planning, advising, directing and assist in the liberalisation of pricing.

He argued that the establishment of the livestock marketing commission could end Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) monopoly, adding that the abattoir bought cattle from Batswana cheaply and thereafter sold the meat and other products at a huge profit.

Despite efforts by the government to revive quarantine system, Mr Katjimune stated, farmers were still not benefiting from their livestock as prices were still low.

When submitting Xaudum settlement views, Mr Katjimune stated that residents had called for an establishment of a natural resource commission which would provide an advisory role on rivers, hills, delta, depressions, desserts, valleys, the environment and the ozone layers.

Residents, he said also suggested that Ntlo ya Dikgosi should be renamed the house of culture adding that the house should consist of all dikgosi from all tribes in the country.

Each tribe, he said should send five dikgosi to the house whose role would be to advise Parliament on issues of their tribes, customs, traditions and values hence preserving culture.

Xaudum residents had also proposed that everyone must have equal rights to land use and that all land territories must be renamed as per their geographical locations.

They also proposed that all Batswana should have freehold land rights.

Kgosi Benson Dibebe who is the coordinator of Mbungu-Wa-Kathimana Cultural Society called for tribal recognition citing that section 77, 78 and 79 of the constitution should be amended to recognise all tribes equally.

He also stressed that all tribes should be led by dikgosi who understand their tradition and culture.

“Ga re batle go busiwa ke batho ba ba sa re itseng jaaka go diragala gompieno.

Go borai go dira jalo, mme re kopa gore molao motheo o sekasekiwe re busiwe ke dikgosi tse di tlhaloganyanng ditso le dingwao tsa rona. ,”he stressed.

Trust for Okavango Cultural and Development Initiative (TOCaDi) representative, Mr Kelathelwe Moses requested that the government should route any assistance given to local trusts affiliated to TOCaDI through its management to ensure proper monitoring.

That, he said could help promote accountability in local trusts.

TOCaDI works to empower communities in the Okavango district to become self-reliant and improve their standard of living.

Mr Moses also proposed that the constitution abolish tribal territories and recognise Basarwa as the first tribe in the country.

Basarwa, he said differed in culture hence underscoring the need to recognise them considering their unique cultures.

Mr Pakusane Kamotati of Ovajaha Empowerment Society suggested that the government should allocate concessions to local trusts operating in Wildlife Management Areas and assist them with funding to develop such concessions in an effort to promote citizen participation in the tourism industry. ENDS