Take a tougher stance
Disturbing revelations pertaining to the plunder of our natural resources have come to the fore, not for the first time either, but it is the trend that is beginning to ruffle the sustainable feathers of our flora and fauna. Concerted efforts are being made in order to win the battle against the poaching of our endangered rhino and elephants as sophisticated poaching syndicates seem to have taken advantage of the loopholes and weaknesses in the anti-poaching strategies currently in place. For a nation dogged by high unemployment rates, locals in villages around national parks have fallen for the monetary bribes and joined the ranks of the poaching syndicates. Those entrusted with the protection of our wildlife have also fallen prey. Incessant pleas by the environment ministry for the justice delivery system to tighten its belt and bring reason to the travesty of justice on poachers’ detention and sentences, took long to be heard. It’s only last week when President Hage Geingob urged responsible authorities to hastily bring forth legislation that needs amendments in order to impose deterrent sentences that impetus was provided. Ancient protected rosewood trees in the Zambezi Region highly sought-after in the Asian markets are being cut by a Chinese company and loggers without permission. This mayhem must come to an end and it is high time that the government discards its soft stance on errant Chinese citizens who seem to be at the centre of this plunder. Our natural resources must be managed sustainably to nourish our country and be cherished by our future generations. To be forewarned is to be forearmed but we seem to be taking a lukewarm attitude towards some of these red-flagged species. We need to take a tough stance save the nation from this calamitous self-harm. The country’s controversial fishing industry seems to be in a tsunami of crises and shocks following reports of critically low reserves of its popular sardines. If it is true that there are reports from scientists that support this dire sardine situation then government must dive to the bottom of this revelation. We need to act with incisive methods and we must do so now.
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Namibian Sun
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