IPC MP says N$100 000 insufficient for human killed by wildlife

Independent Patriots for Change MP, Rodrick Likando, said the current compensation of N$100 000 for a human life lost in a wildlife-conflict incident is not only insufficient, but also undermines the dignity of the affected families. Likando, the shadow minister of environment and tourism, posed questions to his counterpart, Indileni Daniel, in parliament regarding her ministry this week.He said that the Human-Wildlife Conflict Self-Reliance Scheme was introduced as a measure of relief, but it has been widely criticised for inadequate compensation, delay in payouts and bureaucratic hurdles, leaving many victims without the support they deserve. Fragile tourism sectorLikando further said that the tourism sector, which significantly supports conservation funding, rural development, and livelihoods, remains fragile and underdeveloped, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Underinvestment in infrastructure, over-reliance on international tourists, and lack of support for community-based tourism initiatives continue to limit the sector's potential.”Likando inquired about these pressing issues in light of Namibia’s vision for inclusive and sustainable development, as outlined in Vision 2030, the sixth National Development Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals. He wanted to know what the immediate and long-term measures the ministry is implementing to effectively address the increasing human wildlife conflict, particularly in high-risk regions such as Zambezi, Kunene, and Kavango, where communities continue to suffer loss of life, crops and livestock. Actual human life valueLikando further wanted to know, given the public concern over the inadequacy and inefficiency of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Self-Reliance Scheme, whether the ministry is reviewing the current compensation framework to ensure that it reflects the actual value of human life and economic losses, and that the process is made more accessible and timely. He also inquired about the strategies the ministry had developed to revitalise tourism, particularly through investment in infrastructure, promotion of domestic tourism, and support for community-based tourism enterprises, in light of the continued fragility of the tourism sector. Furthermore, Likando wanted to know what measures are in place to ensure that the local communities benefit meaningfully from conservation and tourism activities, so they are not” merely victims of environmental policies, but active beneficiaries and partners in sustainable development.” Paid outDaniel recently said that nearly N$9 million was paid out to 86 registered communal conservancies over the past financial year to compensate for livestock and crop losses caused by wildlife.An additional N$3.4 million went to communities outside conservancies for deaths, injuries and other damages linked to wildlife encounters.Payments under the scheme were adjusted in September last year.Funeral expenses and related costs remain at N$100 000. At the same time, injury without loss of body parts has been increased from N$10 000 to N$15 000, injury with loss of body part increased from N$30 000 to N$40 000 and disability increased from N$50 000 to N$100 000.With regards to livestock losses, the amount paid for losses of cattle increased from N$3 000 to N$5 000, for goats, from N$500 to N$800, for a sheep, from N$700 to N$800, for horses, from N$800 to N$1 500, for a donkey, from N$500 to N$1 000, and for a pig, from N$700 to N$1 000.Meanwhile, crop damage payments increased from N$250 to N$1 000 for one quarter of a hectare and from N$1 000 to N$2 500 for one hectare.At that time, the ministry said that the compensation for human death cannot be increased for now, as this was increased from N$5 000 in 2009 to N$100 000 in the year 2018. “The amount of N$100 000 is also sufficient to cover funeral expenses," the ministry noted.This year April, the offset payment for cattle loss is being raised from N$5 000 to N$8 000.

IPC MP says N$100 000 insufficient for human killed by wildlife

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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IPC MP says N$100 000 insufficient for human killed by wildlife

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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