13 Sep 2023

Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has called for shared responsibility towards prevention of veld fires to conserve natural resources.

Mr Tsogwane said during a kgotla meeting in Orapa on Tuesday that veld fires had become a challenge causing damage to the country’s natural resources.

Veld fires, he said, had led to degradation of grassland, loss of wildlife and livestock, adding that Central Kalahari Game Reserve had been ravaged by veld fires. 

He implored members of the public to assume the responsibility of preventing veld fires. Mr Tsogwane said the local economy was dependent on tourism revenue hence it was crucial to ensure that the ecosystem was conserved.

He cautioned that livestock farmers and safari operators among others, would not be the only ones affected by veld fires as the end users would also suffer due to shortage of meat.

Mr Tsogwane said government’s aim was to promote green economy and ensure that the environment was not contaminated.

The objective, he said, was to promote use of solar panels.

Mr Tsogwane stated that with drought having been declared this year, animal feed prices and loans for farming equipment would be subsidised while food rations for all school levels and food supplements in clinics would be augmented. Commenting, one resident Mr King Disana complained of poor  performance in schools, stating that it was due to abuse of drugs.

Mr Disana also expressed concern about poor performance of trusts. He also proposed that a Vice President should have a constituency and that retired politicians should be prohibited from contesting for chieftainship positions.

Another resident,  Bethel Mohinamone opined that double murder suspects should not be granted bail.

Mr Marae Moilwa complained that electrical cables theft was rising at an alarming rate.

Orapa Councillor, Mr Balopi Chilume also raised a concern that contractors engaged by Debswana failed to pay their employees severance benefits when their contracts with the mine expired. Ends