28 Apr 2026

Community based Organisations (CBOs) have been warned against hostile takeover as such behaviour can shake investor confidence, trust and halt community development projects.

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi revealed this in Maun recently during an engagement with members of CBOs that some community trusts were grappling with internal fights, maladministration and fund embezzlement that had hindered their effectiveness and warned them to stop the habit as it can damage their reputations.

Hostile takeover and their fights, he said could significantly increase investor uncertainty often causing a decline in confidence citing that some board of trustees lease concessions to investors and then micro manage limiting their operations.

He also stated that some investors influence some board members to lease them concessions, subdivide them, appealing to CBOs to do the right thing.

Failure to do so, he said would force the government to look for another working model to ensure smooth operations. In order to increase investment, CBOs were urged to ensure investors do not live under the environment of uncertainty so that they expand their operations.

“Master of the high court is busy with trust issues because of hostile takeover by some members of the board who put their interests first at the expense of community resulting in court cases.

This is worrisome because the trust core mandate is to sustainably manage natural resources so that they benefit community not individuals,” he added urging CBOs to take tourism as a business that could reduce poverty and create employment opportunities.

For a long time, some community trusts, Mr Mmolotsi said had been generating P8 million to P10 million annually but that revenue did not reflect in their communities because it was wasted on court cases.

Furthermore, he said plans are underway to subdivide big concession to ensure other communities without concessions benefit.

Moreover, he said some big concessions, are underutilised as investors only focus on small portion while the other remain idling.

The minister also informed the gathering that the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) act was signed early January this year and regulations would soon be finalised.

The implementation of the act, he said was delayed by the regulations but hoped that by June, they would be in use.

The minister also assured community trusts that the government has no intentions to take over trusts as some people think that the development of the act may take their powers.

He explained that the act aims to formalise and strengthen the sustainable management of natural resources by local communities, ensuring they derive economic benefits from wildlife and tourism.

The act focuses on enhancing CBOs transparency and accountability, addressing mismanagement and ensuring funds are used for local community development. North West district commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka concurred that poor governance had paralysed many trusts operations citing weak generation of revenue, maladministration and infights.

However, he appreciated that with the CBNRM act in place, trusts will embrace best practices and build stronger, more resilience organisations that truly serve their communities.

He acknowledged that some trusts are excelling as they are implanting tangible projects citing Okavango Community Trust which owns a general dealer, a mortuary, hardware, a lodge and a cultural village benefiting five villages of Seronga, Betsha, Eretsha, Gudingwa and Gunotsoga respectively.

For their part, some members of the CBOs called for capacity building of trusts saying it is crucial for sustainable development and developing sound governance structures.

Capacity building, they said should focus on strengthening community structures and promoting sustainable economic opportunities to boost community resilience. ENDS