25 Mar 2024

Chobe community has been implored to stand as a united front and lobby against Britain’s hunting trophies importation ban.

This follows a recent visit by Botswana delegation to London led by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu where the delegation addressed the House of Lords and other stakeholders  to lobby against the passing of the Hunting Trophies Bill by the British Parliament.

The bill seeks to ban importation  of trophies and other species into the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT) Annual General Meeting in Satau on Saturday, Principal State Counsel in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Mr Anthony Ditedu said the ban would directly impact the lives of Chobe people as they benefited from income generated from hunting practices in their concession.

 He said it was imperative that the rest of the world was informed about Botswana’s policies and approach to sustainable wildlife conservation which guided the annual quotas for trophy hunting.

Mr Ditedu said community trusts such as CECT, which were established through the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy deserved accolades for preserving natural resources sustainably and creating opportunities based on community based organisation’s projects.

He said CECT was exemplary in safeguarding natural resources for over 30 years having received international recognition at the 2022 African Leadership Forum as the second runner up in leading in progressive policies category.

“We celebrate your achievements as your community trust turns 30 this year and we know that success is centered on collaborative efforts hence I encourage you to continue diversifying your income streams and work with a collective mindset,”he said.

CECT board Chairperson, Mr Poniso Shamukuni stated that CECT members were part of the team that went to London to lobby against the ban, adding that as one of the key stakeholders whose community co-existed with wildlife they delivered a presentation to enlighten the British Parliament delegates on the impact of human wildlife conflict.

He said hunting generated revenue for communities in concessions, citing that CECT collected a total of P8. 4 million in hunting income in 2023.

Mr Shamukuni said the hunting trophies importation prohibition Bill would affect CECT directly.

He informed residents of the five villages of CECT; Mabele, Kavimba, Kachikau, Satau and Parakarungu that government had heeded their call and issued them CH2 for 2024 hunting quota following their request to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at Kavimba kgotla last year.

Mr Shamukuni said Chobe enclave communities relied on farming, which was threatened by a looming drought caused by poor rains this ploughing season hence the trust needed to come up with strategies that would cushion residents.

He pointed out that Chobe Land Board had approved their proposals to commence construction developments at Susuma pan campsite and Linyanti/Shaile Lodge which would help increase their income.

For his part, Kgosi Rungwe Simasiku of Satau said CECT had a visible footprint in the Chobe Enclave community having created jobs, developments, assisted with agricultural equipment and united community.

He said the introduction of CBNRMs presented opportunities by cultivating natural resources beneficiation hence instilling conservation principles for people to coexist with wildlife.

“Let us be custodians and ambassadors of our natural resources and show the world that we can coexist with wildlife through strategies like controlled hunting.”ENDS