Compensate wildlife victims
12 March, 2009

GABORONE - The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism should consider compensating people attacked by wildlife, says Mr Olifant Mfa.

Contributing to the debate on the 2009/10 budget proposal for the ministry on Monday, Mr Mfa questioned the logic of compensating people when their livestock and crops are destroyed by wildlife, but denying them compensation when they are direct victims.

He added that he does not agree with the argument that there is no value on human life and suggested that the ministry could use the same formula used by insurance companies.

He said one farmer in Sepako was attacked by a buffalo that entered his kraal but was never compensated.

Another MP, Mr Keletso Rakhudu of Gaborone North complained about the continued use of pit latrines in Gaborone particularly in SHHA areas.

He urged the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to expedite the development of modern sewerage systems in the capital city.

Mr Rakhudu welcomed the introduction of green scorpions to deal with people who dump waste at ungazetted points.

On his part, Letlhakeng East MP, Mr Gordon Mokgwathi urged the ministry to be vigilant and to monitor activities inside game farms.

He said he suspects that the country is losing wildlife to other countries through illegal exports.

He noted that most game farms have constructed airstrips which could be used illegal export game.

Mr Mokgwathi also urged government to develop the road linking Khutse Game Reserve with Letlhakeng to make it easier for tourists to access the reserve.

The Letlhakeng East legislator said Batswana should be encouraged to venture into game farming, saying animals such as lions do not require big farms.

The MP for Molepolole North, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri urged all stakeholders to find a better management strategy to deal with the Thaone Dam in Molepolole.

He said clinical waste from the village hospital finds its way into the dam.BOPA

Deter animals from crops
12 March, 2009

GABORONE - Kudus, baboons and porcupines are a menace to crops in the southern part of the country, says Ngwaketse South MP.

Mr Peter Siele urged the government to device a strategy to deter the animals from destroying crops.

Commenting on the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism budget proposal for the 2009/10 financial year on Tuesday, Mr Siele also urged the ministry to undertake research on the usefulness of the mongana tree. He said the tree destroys grass and suggested that it should be destroyed to give grass a chance to grow.

Mr Siele, who is also the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, called for stern regulations to control the mining of sand and other soils.

For his part, Gaborone Central MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando advised the ministry to consider encouraging urban tourism.

He said at present most international guests who visit Gaborone are attending conferences. He, therefore, said the country needs a strategy to attract tourists to its urban places.

He also urged the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to inform people about the impact of the unfolding global economic recession on the tourism sector, adding that tourism is one of the key revenue earners for the country. Regarding the benefits that the country could derive from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Mr Saleshando said the country lacks a strategy to salvage benefits from the event.

He said Botswana will be closed for business in 2010 as football fans are not interested in visiting a country where there is no entertainment.

Mr Saleshando said South African authorities are relaxing some of their liberal liquor regulations in order to attract football fans while the opposite is happening in Botswana.

The Gaborone Central MP also called for the acceleration of the rehabilitation of the old Gaborone landfill, saying it is bad for people's businesses due to mismanagement.

In his contribution, specially elected MP, Mr Botsalo Ntuane said he is not happy with ablution facilities at the country's game reserves particularly the Khutse Game Reserve.

He said tourists expect that basic essentials such as ablution facilities would be clean, adding that dirty ablution facilities could be a major turn off.

Mr Ntuane also said the country seems to be lacking a strategy to attract tourists who will be attending the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

He urged the government to consider lifting some regulations that discourage people from entertaining themselves freely.

Mr Ntuane also argued that football fans are not interested in the wilderness safari but rather on city life. BOPA

quote:

Letlhakeng East MP, Mr Gordon Mokgwathi urged the ministry to be vigilant and to monitor activities inside game farms.

He said he suspects that the country is losing wildlife to other countries through illegal exports.

He noted that most game farms have constructed airstrips which could be used illegal export game.

I would dearly love to see someone load a Kudu in a 206.

Or an Eland in a Caravan, or a Wildebeest in a ...

What an idiot.

Every time I think that "Africa" can not surprise me any more ... it does.

"He said one farmer in Sepako was attacked by a buffalo that entered his kraal but was never compensated. "


That's what he gets for not compensating that poor buffalo!

Bill Quimby

can these idiots really believe that people who come to RSA for the World Cup might come over to Bots. for the night life? IF THE LIQUOR LAWS WERE RELAXED? can a human being really be that stupid? somehow, i don't think the "city life" in Gaborone is going to be exciting enough to attract visitors. and what about the moron who thinks Bots. should be more involved in game farming, because lions don't require big game farms. he is right as long as you keep them in a cage( which requires no farm at all). these are undoubtedly some of the dumbest statements i have ever read( although the idea of putting scorpions in an unauthorized land fill does have a certain appeal).