15 Jun 2025

The envisaged Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Act is not meant to disempower Community Based Organisations (CBOs) but to address issues of governance and ensure beneficiation.

Acting CBNRM coordinator, Mr Thabo Tshipinare informed CBOs consultative meeting in Maun Friday that it would strengthen institutional and legal arrangements on the implementation of the CBNRM programme. Some attendees were of the view that the proposed legislation would give the director more powers than the communities who were the custodian of the natural resources. The consensus was in appreciation of the CBNRM policy as it empowered communities to conserve, manage natural resources and generate wealth from their sustainable use.

While equally acknowledging that the current bill was not stringent in combating fraud and funds embezzlement, the CBOs were not buying into a clause of the proposed Act, transferring holding and managing of financial accounts to the office of the district commissioners. They said the move would delay CBOs to undertake developmental projects benefiting the community.

However, Mr Tshipinare said transferring the financial accounts holding powers to a public office was prompted by among others; poor governance and mismanagement of funds by community trusts. Mr Tshipinare further explained that the DC or the Technical Advisory Committee though in possession of the funds would not make decisions or release the funds without the authority of the CBOs. 

He said the law would not allow government to take control and management of their assets. Furthermore, Mr Tshipinare said the Act would provide for the programme to advocate for sustainable use of natural resources including cultural and heritage resources by communities and for matters connected or incidental thereto.

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi also assured the attendees that the Act would benefit both the community, CBOs and board of trustees. Mr Mmolotsi said during the previous consultations, there were complaints from the community levelled against members of board of trustees as they were suspected of getting a lion’s share of the millions of Pula generated through the use of natural resources while the communities were in poverty. 

Mr Mmolotsi also said revealed the enactment of the Act, would compel the CBOs to compliment the national development plans by focusing on meaningful development projects that directly benefited the communities. Kgosi Tapoloso Mosika said the Act, if well implemented, the CBNRM programme had the potential to alleviate poverty and undertake sustainable developmental projects.

Another speaker, Professor Joseph Mbaiwa said issues of poor governance were an eyesore within community trusts and his wish was for the bill to include self-regulation where CBOs could have a body like an association that could regulate them.

North West District Commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka concurred that the Act would provide a lasting solution to problems faced by community trusts. He said there was a widespread mismanagement of funds that ultimately hampered CBOs operations. He said Community Trusts had the potential to develop the communities and undertake tangible projects. ENDS