30 Jan 2026

The European Union (EU), through the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) has donated a vehicle to Communities Living Amongst Wildlife Sustainably (CLAWS) to strengthen the organisation’s work in promoting coexistence between communities, livestock and wildlife across the KAZA landscape.

The vehicle will be used by a wildlife veterinarian to improve disease surveillance, prevention, and response at the livestock–wildlife interface.

Handing over the vehicle in Maun on Monday, KAZA executive director Dr Nyambe Nyambe said the donation represented more than material support as it symbolised partnership, shared responsibility and a collective commitment to sustainable conservation and development in the KAZA region.

Dr Nyambe further said CLAWS played a critical role in translating regional conservation strategies into practical, community-level interventions, noting that while many EU NaturAfrica initiatives operated at policy level, CLAWS delivered targeted technical support on the ground.

For her part, programme director at CLAWS, Ms Catja Orford said the organisation’s mandate is to support communities living alongside wildlife by improving animal health, strengthening livestock management systems, and reducing human–wildlife conflict in ways that also protect livelihoods.

“One of our key interventions is the introduction of a communal herding system, where livestock is herded around the clock,” she said, noting that the approach promoted human–wildlife coexistence, reduced conflicts, and helped manage grazing land for conservation purposes.

Furthermore, Ms Orford said limited mobility had previously made it difficult for CLAWS to consistently reach remote communities and implement its programmes effectively.

“The lack of reliable transport affected our ability to reach communities regularly and respond quickly to animal health and conflict-related issues,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Dr Rentin Mafonko of the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture thanked the European Union for financing the project through the EU NaturAfrica Fund, describing the EU as a long-standing development partner in Botswana’s conservation sector.

Dr Mafonko said the work carried out by CLAWS aligned with government priorities, particularly in addressing veterinary challenges in red-zone areas where disease control affected access to export markets.

He highlighted initiatives such as Commodity-Based Trading and Herding for Health as practical models that promoted coexistence while supporting a private-sector-led and export-oriented economy.

North West District Council (NWDC) chairperson, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng called on Batswana to take collective responsibility for environmental protection, saying conservation efforts were vital for the benefit of future generations. BOPA