Swapo nearly paid heavy price over Bwabwata, Hambukushu says
• Cattle grazing a bone of contention
In a petition dated 6 November 2021, the traditional authority expressed grievances towards the environment and tourism ministry as far as the management of the Bwabwata National Park is concerned.
KENYA KAMBOWEWINDHOEK
The Hambukushu Traditional Authority says the integrity of Swapo in its jurisdiction was nearly compromised in the 2020 local and regional government elections following a threat by the environment and tourism ministry to evict all livestock from the Bwabwata National Park weeks ahead of the elections.
In the 2015 regional elections, Swapo garnered 5 541 votes, but this was reduced to 2 995 in 2020.
The traditional authority made the observation in a petition dated 6 November 2021 to speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi, in which it expressed grievances towards the environment and tourism ministry as far as the management of the Bwabwata National Park is concerned.
The bone of contention is that communal farmers from Hambukushu currently graze and keep their livestock in the national park, while the line ministry is carrying out a 1999 Cabinet decision that no cattle will be allowed in the national park or any other game park in the north-east of the country.
This has since created tension between the two parties.
Cost Swapo votes
In the petition, the traditional authority stated its case and indicated that the ministry’s attempt to evict all livestock ahead of the 2020 local authority and regional council elections could have cost Swapo votes.
“Last year (2020), while political parties were busy with their election campaign to elect regional and local authority councillors, the same ministry under the leadership of minister Pohamba Shifeta threatened to evict all livestock in Bwabwata without proper consultation with the Hambukushu Traditional Authority. Such [a] move almost compromised the integrity of the Swapo-led government, considering it was election time,” the petition read. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs will undertake a fact-finding visit to Bwabwata National Park this week following the petition.
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The Hambukushu Traditional Authority says the integrity of Swapo in its jurisdiction was nearly compromised in the 2020 local and regional government elections following a threat by the environment and tourism ministry to evict all livestock from the Bwabwata National Park weeks ahead of the elections.
In the 2015 regional elections, Swapo garnered 5 541 votes, but this was reduced to 2 995 in 2020.
The traditional authority made the observation in a petition dated 6 November 2021 to speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi, in which it expressed grievances towards the environment and tourism ministry as far as the management of the Bwabwata National Park is concerned.
The bone of contention is that communal farmers from Hambukushu currently graze and keep their livestock in the national park, while the line ministry is carrying out a 1999 Cabinet decision that no cattle will be allowed in the national park or any other game park in the north-east of the country.
This has since created tension between the two parties.
Cost Swapo votes
In the petition, the traditional authority stated its case and indicated that the ministry’s attempt to evict all livestock ahead of the 2020 local authority and regional council elections could have cost Swapo votes.
“Last year (2020), while political parties were busy with their election campaign to elect regional and local authority councillors, the same ministry under the leadership of minister Pohamba Shifeta threatened to evict all livestock in Bwabwata without proper consultation with the Hambukushu Traditional Authority. Such [a] move almost compromised the integrity of the Swapo-led government, considering it was election time,” the petition read. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs will undertake a fact-finding visit to Bwabwata National Park this week following the petition.
[email protected]
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