Ministry responds to illegal camping furore
The tourism ministry says the commitment of its staff members in the Namib Naukluft Park should not be doubted, and people must not readily jump on the blame wagon.
This comes after a video recently circulated on various social media platforms showing a group of people illegally camping in Namib Naukluft Park.
Spokesperson of the ministry Romeo Muyunda said the video created the impression that the ministry’s staff do not conduct regular patrols in the park because they did not detect the illegal campers.
“Contrary to this assertion, our staff in the Namib Naukluft Park continue to demonstrate a high level of commitment and dedication to their duties, despite the fact that they manage a huge park of five million hectares.”
Large area presents challenges
Muyunda said, considering the massive area, staff cannot be in all places at all times as they have to undertake other duties such as law enforcement, the provision of water to game and infrastructure maintenance.
He added that, like any other institution, the administration of national parks presents challenges, which include non-adherence to park rules and regulations.
“However, isolated incidents should not lead to doubts over the commitment of our staff. It is possible that we may miss some illegal activities while attending to other equally important duties," he said.
Work together
Muyunda said the Namib Naukluft and other parks are Namibia’s treasured tourist attractions, which generate revenue and employment and contribute to the national economy.
“Our responsibility to preserve our treasure must be a collective one. It is concerning that society has resorted to jumping on the blame wagon, when an isolated incident occurs instead of emphasising our shared responsibility to achieve desired results.”
Muyunda said the ministry encourages anyone who witnesses any transgressions in the parks to report them to the nearest relevant authorities.
“We assure members of the public and tourists alike that we remain committed to managing and implementing our national park rules and applying swift intervention when required.”
This comes after a video recently circulated on various social media platforms showing a group of people illegally camping in Namib Naukluft Park.
Spokesperson of the ministry Romeo Muyunda said the video created the impression that the ministry’s staff do not conduct regular patrols in the park because they did not detect the illegal campers.
“Contrary to this assertion, our staff in the Namib Naukluft Park continue to demonstrate a high level of commitment and dedication to their duties, despite the fact that they manage a huge park of five million hectares.”
Large area presents challenges
Muyunda said, considering the massive area, staff cannot be in all places at all times as they have to undertake other duties such as law enforcement, the provision of water to game and infrastructure maintenance.
He added that, like any other institution, the administration of national parks presents challenges, which include non-adherence to park rules and regulations.
“However, isolated incidents should not lead to doubts over the commitment of our staff. It is possible that we may miss some illegal activities while attending to other equally important duties," he said.
Work together
Muyunda said the Namib Naukluft and other parks are Namibia’s treasured tourist attractions, which generate revenue and employment and contribute to the national economy.
“Our responsibility to preserve our treasure must be a collective one. It is concerning that society has resorted to jumping on the blame wagon, when an isolated incident occurs instead of emphasising our shared responsibility to achieve desired results.”
Muyunda said the ministry encourages anyone who witnesses any transgressions in the parks to report them to the nearest relevant authorities.
“We assure members of the public and tourists alike that we remain committed to managing and implementing our national park rules and applying swift intervention when required.”
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