01 Nov 2023

The wildlife forensic laboratory in Kasane, once complete, will be the embodiment of Botswana’s dedication to conservation of natural resources that are integral to the ecosystem, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

 Delivering a keynote address at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the wildlife forensic laboratory in Kasane on October 31, President Masisi said the project was a strategic partnership between Botswana, Virginia Tech, a public land grant research University in USA and a Chobe based NGO the Centre for African Resources, Animals, Communities and Land Use (CARACAL) as the end recipient.

He said the project was funded by the United States Department of State - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs through a grant amounting to P37 million.

President Masisi said this collaborative effort was a desire to join forces to secure human health, counter natural and man-made threats to citizens, natural assets, agricultural resources, and economies.

“The forensic laboratory will scientifically investigate and prosecute wildlife trafficking crimes, through inter-agency law enforcement support and this will entail collection, storage and analysis of evidence,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the laboratory would train a multi-agency elite team of wildlife crime investigators and administration of justice officers to enhance their capability in handling related cases.

He said Botswana’s commitment to wildlife conservation was unique as reflected not only in a significant operational focus on wildlife management and security, but also in the allocation of more than 40 per cent of the land area to conservation of natural resources. 

He highlighted that surveillance and tracking of emergence and re-emergence of infectious and zoonotic diseases was critical for Southern Africa.

President Masisi said the construction of a laboratory came at an opportune time when the region was compelled to re-align response strategies that would help advance measures to address these problems, and leveraging on the expertise and technological advancement of cooperating partners.

Moreover, he stated that the project represented Botswana’s goals as set out in the Reset Agenda, allowing citizens to be part of the development of the cutting-edge new knowledge to come out of the facility.

The US ambassador to Botswana, Mr Howard Van Vranken said Virginia Tech was one of the leading land-grant universities in the US and among the top six of universities for research expenditures.

He said the institute’s mission was to serve as a community of knowledge, discovery, and creativity to improve the quality of life and the human condition throughout the world, hence being closely aligned with US embassy’s mission in Botswana.

Mr Van Vranken said  the US government worked closely with the Botswana government and civil society to protect Botswana’s valuable natural resources, including its wildlife and endangered ecosystems.

“Sustainable management of Botswana’s natural resources is not only a critical conservation goal but is also vital for Botswana’s long-term economic health and supports the livelihoods of Batswana,” he said.

Minister of Justice and MP for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni said human-wildlife conflict remained a threat in Chobe and hoped  that the  laboratory would help combat it. 

He thanked the US government through Virginia Tech for selecting Botswana as a beneficiary of the grant, adding that this fostered more collaborations in future.

“Investing in research, science and technology is paramount and I believe upon completion this lab will have cutting edge technology that will investigate and analyse biological evidence.” In his welcome remarks, Kasane court president Kgosi Thuso Wasetso said Kasane was fitting to have such a lab as a popular access point of tourism to Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls.

He said the lab was a milestone towards conservation of wildlife and natural resources, not just for Batswana, but global citizens. ENDS