13 Apr 2022

Moremi Game Reserve was internally audited during the 2017/2018 and 2018/19 financial years.

Local government and rural development assistant minister, Mr Mabuse Pule told Parliament on behalf of Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism.

Mr Mabuse said the ministry’s Internal auditor had planned to conduct an audit for Moremi Game Reserve in 2020/21 but the task was not undertaken due to the COVID-19 pandemic movement restrictions.

He indicated that some of the lessons learnt included that auditing was important as it helped to correct anomalies in the daily running of the game reserve and it also deterred fraud by officers.

Parliament also heard that audit identified gaps in the government processes in the game reserve, helped to fast-track developments required in its day to day running and also addressed staff welfare issues.

“Regular auditing of game reserves and national parks is important as an administrative process to help correct abnormalities and gaps in the government processes used. However, the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act (1992) and its associated regulations does not state anywhere that non-auditing of game reserves is illegal,” he said.

They were also told that auditing of government entities was the responsibility of Auditor General hence, determination to audit or not to audit remained their responsibility as guided by the Finance and Audit Act.

MP’s were further told that some of the corrective measures in place to normalise the Moremi Game Reserve audit included the audit report which had observed that some tourists flew in or canoed in the park, and that Department of Wildlife and National Parks had made an agreement with tour operators in the protected areas to register tourists as they entered the game reserve and provide statistics on monthly basis.

“This was noted as a risk area in terms of under-reporting by the tour operators. The audit had recommended constructing a permanent camp or office for monitoring entrance or departures through these routes, but the department has not been able to do so due to resource constraints.” Furthermore, the ministry would look into putting up the office in the western side of the park in the future as resources for physical park infrastructure become available.

They also heard that audit observed that revenue collection at entrances was collected in unsecure counters.

“The counters at both North and South gates were without burglar bars which put the collections at risk. To address this, burglar bars have been installed in South and North Gate offices.”

The audit report, it was said, had noted that Moremi Game Reserve Management Plan was overdue for review as it was last reviewed in 2007 and took five years for need to be reviewed, and as a corrective measure, the Management Plan was reviewed in 2021 and had been completed.

In relation to transportation of cash for remittance, lawmakers heard that the audit report had stated that cash and revenue collectors were transported in the back of the land cruisers or unsecure vehicles with cashboxes unchained for a distance of more than 100kms.

“This has been addressed through as a fully customised Land Cruiser Twin cab was procured during the 2021/22 financial year and is on-site to address this short-coming.”

On the security at the park entrance, they heard that there were no security personnel at Moremi Game Reserve entrances, yet the standard practice was government premises were to be provided with security to protect government property.

“In response to the risk of theft of cash, the installation of Point of Sale (POS) machines has been adopted as a long-term measure to safely collect revenue in protected areas. During the 2022/23 financial year, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks will ensure that all pay-points have POS machines, including all park entrances.”

Additionally, security features, including strong-rooms, they heard, had been constructed, including at South and North Gate offices.

Further, they were told that the audit had noted that there was no electricity at North Gate and officers used their personal phones to provide light when they were registering guests and processing park payments.

“In response to this, solar energy electricity has been availed and installed therefore the problem of lighting has been solved. The solar system is working interchangeably with a diesel-powered generator.”

Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, had asked for an update on the state of the Moremi Game Reserve audit, particularly the financial years the game reserve was audited and the lessons learnt.

He also wanted to know the corrective measures in place to normalise the Moremi Game Reserve audit. ENDS