Ministry stops pilfering of hunting fees
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has issued a directive that all proceeds from hunting concessions must be channelled through the ministry's account in order to improve accountability.
Shifeta issued the directive at the weekend at the official opening of the newly equipped park station at Buffalo in the Bwabwata National Park. He said millions of dollars are generated yearly through hunting concessions in national parks.
The money is supposed to help develop the local communities, but no significant development has taken place. “You cannot eat on behalf others, it must stop,” Shifeta said.
“The money generated from hunting concessions should strictly be used for community development projects identified by those same local communities. If you have not accounted for any or some of the money, forget about this happening again. Now I have given instruction that ... the money must be channelled to our account and only when community-identified projects are brought to our office will the money go to those projects.”
Shifeta said the ministry would take charge of the funds and release them only when projects were identified by the communities.
The minister said the Bwabwata National Park makes about N$5 million a year but no significant development can be seen. “We also want the communities to be our eyes and ears and tell us what development is taking place because millions have been generated. Where does that money go? Now we need to make changes,” he said. Shifeta's remark comes weeks after the San Khwe community voiced concern about the lack of development of their area in Bwabwata National Park. They raised the complaint at the recent Kavango East Region town hall meeting at Rundu. Shifeta attended that meeting but did not get an opportunity to respond.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Shifeta issued the directive at the weekend at the official opening of the newly equipped park station at Buffalo in the Bwabwata National Park. He said millions of dollars are generated yearly through hunting concessions in national parks.
The money is supposed to help develop the local communities, but no significant development has taken place. “You cannot eat on behalf others, it must stop,” Shifeta said.
“The money generated from hunting concessions should strictly be used for community development projects identified by those same local communities. If you have not accounted for any or some of the money, forget about this happening again. Now I have given instruction that ... the money must be channelled to our account and only when community-identified projects are brought to our office will the money go to those projects.”
Shifeta said the ministry would take charge of the funds and release them only when projects were identified by the communities.
The minister said the Bwabwata National Park makes about N$5 million a year but no significant development can be seen. “We also want the communities to be our eyes and ears and tell us what development is taking place because millions have been generated. Where does that money go? Now we need to make changes,” he said. Shifeta's remark comes weeks after the San Khwe community voiced concern about the lack of development of their area in Bwabwata National Park. They raised the complaint at the recent Kavango East Region town hall meeting at Rundu. Shifeta attended that meeting but did not get an opportunity to respond.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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