Mokaila withholds Mababe hunting quota
18 December, 2009

MAUN - The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila says he will withhold the hunting quota for Mababe Zokotsama Community Trust (MZCT) and others, which are not living up to their mandates.

Addressing members of the MZCT at Mababe recently, the minister said he would continue to be firm on matters affecting community trusts, adding that the MZCT was inundated with problems, which warranted investigation and auditing.

According to Mr Mokaila, MZCT and other defaulting trusts would have their funds administered from a holding account at the district commissioners office until they kept their houses in order.

Mr Mokaila told the Mababe community members to desist from operating camping sites within a concession area allocated to the community for their personal benefit.

I will not tolerate such and that should never happen, he warned.

The minster also cautioned the community against issues of tribalism after some residents complained that they were being disadvantaged because they originated from places outside Mababe.

Mr Mokaila expressed concern that the trust resorted to throw out board of trustees via a vote of no confidence.

He advised that a no confidence vote should only be reserved for extraordinary circumstances and appealed to the community to utilise the expertise of the technical advisory committee (TAC).

A member of TAC, Mr Khumiso Rathipana of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks said they tried their best to give the trust cogent advice on different issues.

Mr Rathipana said their office failed to attend the meeting, which resulted with the outgoing board being pushed out through a vote of no confidence because they were given a short notice and they had other work commitments.

For his part, Mababe headman, Mr Montle Kebualemang complained about the deposed board of trustees, which he said was not serving the interests of the community resulting with members turning against it.

He said the board used the trust funds without consulting members of the community and further said the board never held annual general meetings quarterly as per the constitution.

In his response, Minister Mokaila said the deposed board should be allowed to continue to run the affairs of the trust until a formal handover has been accordingly done.BOPA