Conservancies not there to drive tribal lines – Shifeta
• Geared towards rural
communities’ upliftment
The ministry has received complaints that benefits do not reach some members due to tribal differences.
Conservancies and community forests are not based on tribal lines.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this on Saturday at a handover ceremony of grant funding and equipment in the Zambezi Region.
At least 50% of the total annual income generated by conservancies, community forests or associations must be allocated to the implementation of community development projects, Shifeta said. This will ensure full commitment to the upliftment of rural communities, he explained.
He, however, noted that the ministry has recently received complaints from some conservancy and community forest members and individuals that benefits do not reach some members due to tribal set-ups or differences in the region.
Not a tool to divide
“A conservancy or community forest is not a tool to divide community members along tribal, political, racial or ethnic lines; it is a vehicle towards rural economic emancipation. This should be very clear to everyone concerned.”
Shifeta said all members of a conservancy or community forest should benefit from that conservancy or community forest, whether they belong to the Masubia, Mafwe, Mashi or Mayeyi traditional authority.
“I urge you all to commit yourselves to nation-building and not indulge yourselves in creating conflict amongst community members because of tribal affiliations or background,” the minister said.
Success story
At the event, two project activities were launched and received grants that are co-financed by Germany - through the KfW Development Bank - and the Namibian government.
Overall, the KfW’s financial contribution towards the Poverty-Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia project totals N$20 million, while N$17 million will be contributed towards the Community Livelihood Development and Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation project.
Shifeta said human-wildlife conflict and community livelihood are at the heart of Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme.
According to him, the increase in wildlife numbers is a success story for Namibia, but leads to increasing human-wildlife conflict incidences.
In many cases, the most vulnerable members of communities are affected, putting more pressure on their scarce resources, he said.
“As a balancing measure, the ministry continues to implement livelihood-improvement initiatives to ensure communities benefit from the abundant natural resources in their area.”
Balance of priorities
Under the two projects, the financed initiatives include the construction of predator-proof kraals to protect livestock from predators and investment in water infrastructure to reduce conflict between humans, livestock and wildlife, as well as reduce the threat from crocodiles.
Other measures are tin fencing to scare away hippos and elephants from crop fields and investment in a lion ranger programme to create both a sense of safety in communities and much-needed jobs for conservancy staff.
“It is evident that the measures speak to both the elements of wildlife conservation and people’s livelihoods, maintaining the balance of priorities - as it should be. After all, as humans, we are equally part of the environment," Shifeta said.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this on Saturday at a handover ceremony of grant funding and equipment in the Zambezi Region.
At least 50% of the total annual income generated by conservancies, community forests or associations must be allocated to the implementation of community development projects, Shifeta said. This will ensure full commitment to the upliftment of rural communities, he explained.
He, however, noted that the ministry has recently received complaints from some conservancy and community forest members and individuals that benefits do not reach some members due to tribal set-ups or differences in the region.
Not a tool to divide
“A conservancy or community forest is not a tool to divide community members along tribal, political, racial or ethnic lines; it is a vehicle towards rural economic emancipation. This should be very clear to everyone concerned.”
Shifeta said all members of a conservancy or community forest should benefit from that conservancy or community forest, whether they belong to the Masubia, Mafwe, Mashi or Mayeyi traditional authority.
“I urge you all to commit yourselves to nation-building and not indulge yourselves in creating conflict amongst community members because of tribal affiliations or background,” the minister said.
Success story
At the event, two project activities were launched and received grants that are co-financed by Germany - through the KfW Development Bank - and the Namibian government.
Overall, the KfW’s financial contribution towards the Poverty-Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia project totals N$20 million, while N$17 million will be contributed towards the Community Livelihood Development and Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation project.
Shifeta said human-wildlife conflict and community livelihood are at the heart of Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme.
According to him, the increase in wildlife numbers is a success story for Namibia, but leads to increasing human-wildlife conflict incidences.
In many cases, the most vulnerable members of communities are affected, putting more pressure on their scarce resources, he said.
“As a balancing measure, the ministry continues to implement livelihood-improvement initiatives to ensure communities benefit from the abundant natural resources in their area.”
Balance of priorities
Under the two projects, the financed initiatives include the construction of predator-proof kraals to protect livestock from predators and investment in water infrastructure to reduce conflict between humans, livestock and wildlife, as well as reduce the threat from crocodiles.
Other measures are tin fencing to scare away hippos and elephants from crop fields and investment in a lion ranger programme to create both a sense of safety in communities and much-needed jobs for conservancy staff.
“It is evident that the measures speak to both the elements of wildlife conservation and people’s livelihoods, maintaining the balance of priorities - as it should be. After all, as humans, we are equally part of the environment," Shifeta said.
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