27 Apr 2026

Good governance and commitment to sustainable conservation are some of the pillars that have helped the Phuduhudu village community trust, Xhauxhwatubi Development Trust to run its affairs well and to adhere to polices and regulations governing its operations.

The trust, which operates in NG 49 concession, has raised the bar on governance, ensuring that it not only survives but thrives even in the face of challenges.

The trust’s chairperson, Mr Mpho Mazinyo told a press conference that they were excelling in governance and effective utilisation of community funds, dismissing some reports circulating on social media, which painted a different picture.

Mr Mazinyo said the reports were unfounded and that allegations that the trust was struggling to fulfil its mandate due to poor practices were also false.

He said on the contrary, the trust prided itself on having created a culture where ethical conduct was the norm and not the exception; citing that they had ensured the right processes were in place to support accountability at all levels.

The trust generates revenue through the sale of its hunting quotas, which contributed to sustainable development in the village and created employment opportunities for the youth.

While good governance in many community trusts was often challenged by issues of conflict of interest, corruption, lack of transparency and weak accountability mechanisms leading to ineffective operations, at Xhauxhwatubi, good governance has been put at the fore as the cornerstone of long-term success and sustainability.

“Upholding governance and community engagement have made our trust to stand out as a model of successful operation because we model ethical behaviour. We believe that good governance is essential to fulfilling our mission and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve,” he added.

Mr Mazinyo further highlighted that the trust also strived to serve communities, advanced social causes, brought about lasting and meaningful change to the community, explaining that presently, the trust was assisting towards the feeding programme at the local primary school to ensure that learners had two meals in a day.

The chairperson also revealed that the trust also supported the local clinic in tackling drug shortages, saying it had purchased all drugs that were in short supply.

“We believe that primary healthcare is a fundamental right, hence we play a key role to improve drug availability so that the immediate medical needs of patients can be tended to. We also provide transport and cover expenses for patients on referral, be it to Maun or Francistown,” he said.

The village chief, Kgosi Johane Ngwengare also disputed the allegations, saying they aimed to fuel division in the community and undermine the positive efforts by the trust.

Kgosi Ngwengare affirmed that the trust was maintaining high standards of good governance and prudent financial management, as a result of which, it was able to positively impact the livelihoods of the communities it served.

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