Ministry erred with hunting permits
The environment ministry has admitted that an administrative error led to the late publishing of the opening of the hunting season in the Government Gazette.
A notice to officially open the hunting season was submitted late for placement in the Government Gazette due to an administrative error, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism admitted in parliament last week.
Namibian Sun recently reported that that although Namibia's hunting season had been open for nearly a month, the industry had been unable to get hold of hunting permits in the regions as these were only available in Windhoek.
The hunting season traditionally opens on 1 May every year and by the end of May, permits were still not available at regional offices.
The hunting industry and farmers said that this not only had an impact on them and caused severe inconvenience, but also criticised the ministry for its lack of communication and feedback on the situation.
DTA parliament member Nico Smit raised questions in parliament with regards to the issuing of hunting permits.
The deputy environment minister Tommy Nambahu said due to the delay in the placement of the notice in the Governement Gazette regarding the 2017 hunting season, administrative measures were not put in place in time for regional offices to issue permits.
For these reasons, he said, provisions were made to issue general permits at the head office in Windhoek so as not to inconvenience the farmers and hunters.
“It is true that a notice regarding the official opening of the 2017 hunting season was submitted late because of an administrative error - a situation we have publicly apologised for and one which will not repeat itself.”
Nambahu said farmers outside Windhoek was able to apply through the ministry's regional offices and these were submitted within two days after receipt and sent to the regional offices for collection.
He said that no famer or hunter was denied the issuance of a hunting permit by the administrative error in the ministry and everything is in order with hunting season thus far.
However the executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Sakkie Coetzee, described the situation at that time this as total red-tape and an inconvenience to farm owners, who were forced to travel to Windhoek to obtain these permits.
Meanwhile CEO of the Namibia Professional Hunting Union (Napha), Tanja Dahl also said that the situation had a definite impact on the industry.
Asked whether the ministry communicated whether hunting permits would only be issued in Windhoek, Nambahu said this was done through stakeholders such as the Namibia Professional Hunting Association and the Namibia Agricultural Union and their regional offices.
Both the NAU and Napha complained about the lack of communication from the ministry.
Nambahu said measures have been put in place to ensure the same mistake does not happen again.
According to Nambahu about N$450 million is generated from hunting on game per year. This excludes the net national income contribution made by the community-based natural resource management programme of about N$100 million in which hunting also plays a major role.
He said about 15 000 jobs are created from hunting in different categories such as professional hunters, hunting guides, skinners, trackers and others.
According to him hunting is part of tourism which is one of the contributing sectors to the gross domestic product along with agriculture mining and others. “Hunting therefore has a major role in the economy of the country.”
Nambahu also said commercial hunting has an impact on the broader economy and contributes to nation building by driving national economic growth.
ELLANIE SMIT
Namibian Sun recently reported that that although Namibia's hunting season had been open for nearly a month, the industry had been unable to get hold of hunting permits in the regions as these were only available in Windhoek.
The hunting season traditionally opens on 1 May every year and by the end of May, permits were still not available at regional offices.
The hunting industry and farmers said that this not only had an impact on them and caused severe inconvenience, but also criticised the ministry for its lack of communication and feedback on the situation.
DTA parliament member Nico Smit raised questions in parliament with regards to the issuing of hunting permits.
The deputy environment minister Tommy Nambahu said due to the delay in the placement of the notice in the Governement Gazette regarding the 2017 hunting season, administrative measures were not put in place in time for regional offices to issue permits.
For these reasons, he said, provisions were made to issue general permits at the head office in Windhoek so as not to inconvenience the farmers and hunters.
“It is true that a notice regarding the official opening of the 2017 hunting season was submitted late because of an administrative error - a situation we have publicly apologised for and one which will not repeat itself.”
Nambahu said farmers outside Windhoek was able to apply through the ministry's regional offices and these were submitted within two days after receipt and sent to the regional offices for collection.
He said that no famer or hunter was denied the issuance of a hunting permit by the administrative error in the ministry and everything is in order with hunting season thus far.
However the executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Sakkie Coetzee, described the situation at that time this as total red-tape and an inconvenience to farm owners, who were forced to travel to Windhoek to obtain these permits.
Meanwhile CEO of the Namibia Professional Hunting Union (Napha), Tanja Dahl also said that the situation had a definite impact on the industry.
Asked whether the ministry communicated whether hunting permits would only be issued in Windhoek, Nambahu said this was done through stakeholders such as the Namibia Professional Hunting Association and the Namibia Agricultural Union and their regional offices.
Both the NAU and Napha complained about the lack of communication from the ministry.
Nambahu said measures have been put in place to ensure the same mistake does not happen again.
According to Nambahu about N$450 million is generated from hunting on game per year. This excludes the net national income contribution made by the community-based natural resource management programme of about N$100 million in which hunting also plays a major role.
He said about 15 000 jobs are created from hunting in different categories such as professional hunters, hunting guides, skinners, trackers and others.
According to him hunting is part of tourism which is one of the contributing sectors to the gross domestic product along with agriculture mining and others. “Hunting therefore has a major role in the economy of the country.”
Nambahu also said commercial hunting has an impact on the broader economy and contributes to nation building by driving national economic growth.
ELLANIE SMIT
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