Communities make P28m from hunting quotas
The hunting quotas that the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism allocated to communities in 2019 have generated revenue amounting to P28 million after being utilised in 2021.
Minister Philda Kereng revealed that they have recently allocated the 2022 hunting quotas to communities across the country and her ministry in collaboration with the Technical Advisory Committee ( TAC) in the districts is assisting community trusts to profitably dispose of their quotas.
TAC also helps communities with contract negotiation and memorandum of understanding ( MoU) as and when the need arises.
“My Ministry is however, bothered by ( the) growing lack of proper governance in community projects which breeds disunity and defeats the good purpose of the Community Based Natural Resources Management ( CBNRM) programme.
“Dikgosi as ex- officio members of community trusts, I implore you all to exercise your authority and responsibility as community leaders to foster cohesion in your communities and most importantly lead your board of trustees to uphold the constitution in the spirit of good governance,” Kereng told Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.
The Minister indicated that her Ministry continues on its efforts to promote citizen participation in the tourism industry.
“We are continuously identifying new tourism opportunities across the country and sensitising Batswana to venture in,” she said. Kereng who is also SpeciallyElected MP said to that effect tourism sites have been identified in Gaborone, Shashe, Letsibogo and Thune dams and will be allocated to 100 percent citizen- owned companies and consortia.
“This is a deliberate effort by my Ministry to get Batswana to participate in high- end tourism facilities. Furthermore, my Ministry has identified 46 Campsites in Khutse Game Reserve, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to be allocated to 100 percent citizen- owned companies and citizen consortia.
“My ministry will continuously look for opportunities for getting Batswana into the tourism industry especially in pristine areas. As the leases for some of the concession areas elapse, we will continue to allocate them to Batswana.
“I recently toured Tswapong North and Tswapong South where we identified many opportunities that Batswana can take advantage of. My ministry will work with communities in the area to facilitate them to take advantage of the opportunities,” Kereng revealed.
She pointed out that Botswana tourism follows a unique business model of conservation- based tourism whereby local communities, as custodians of natural resources surrounding them, are facilitated through the CBNRM programme to form community trusts that manage conservation based projects and channel income generated into improvement of livelihoods.
According to Kereng, some of the communities that have already benefited include Sankoyo, Mababe, Khwai, Okavango and Jakotsha community trusts which were allocated concession areas and further facilitated to sublease them to private tourism companies.