23 Feb 2014

The last aerial survey of the Shoshong area, CT25 was undertaken in the dry season of 2012.

The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama told Parliament on Wednesday, February 19 stating that wildlife numbers are low and are currently not sufficient to support tourism enterprises based on consumptive utilisation.

He said much of the area around Shoshong comprises livestock ranches which tend to preclude wildlife. A number of the Western Sandveld ranches he said were initially set aside as game ranches but most of these were converted to livestock ranches.

He stated that communities within the Shoshong constituency were encouraged to take advantage of opportunities under the community based natural resources management programme which amongst others could be used for wildlife based tourism.

The minister was answering a question from the MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele who had asked him to state the population of wildlife in Shoshong constituency. Mr Makgalemele had also asked the minister to state how he intends to assist the constituency in the creation of jobs and promoting investments using the resource. ENDS