18 Mar 2014

Botswana will host an international conference on cross boarder fire management in Maun on May 20-22, an official from forestry and range resources, Mr Peter Tumaeletse, has announced.

The great activity would be expected to attract 150 participants mostly from the five SADC member states of Angola, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Mr Tumaeletse told members of the North West District Development Committee (NWDDC) that officials from Australia would facilitate at the conference.

Botswana government had been working closely with the government of Australia in training officers and communities to equip them with wild land fire management strategies, he said.

To date, 1 212 fire fighters had been trained and a Fire Management Strategy was developed, he said, adding that Australia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Botswana.

Mr Tumaeletse said government took a decision to formulate the strategy after the 2008 incident in Hukuntsi where veld fires killed three people and ravaged 11 hectares of land.

“The government was concerned with an increasing number of bush fires that have destroyed vast areas of land and caused millions in damages. The fires also continued to ravage property and threatened lives; hence Australians were engaged to assist,” he added

The forestry official said Australia was an ideal country as it had experienced worst veldt fires in the world. The country has sent two experts from New South Wales - Rural Fire Services to assist and develop an effective fire management system.

He said they chose to host the conference in Ngamiland because the area is prone to veldt fires, adding that last year Tsodilo and Gchwihaba caves were affected. He said currently several training workshops had been conducted on basic firefighting and the Crew Leader Training on fire management.

The first national fire management conference for all district coordinators in 2012 was also supported by Australia Mr Tumaeletse said the NSW Rural Fire Service has established a strong and productive working relationship with Botswana’s Department of Forestry and Range Resources.

He urged members to own the activity and assist in the preparations. The minister of f Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama is expected to officiate at the event. Ends