I cant see anyone wanting to shell out the same serious dollars for a pic of an elephant ffs! Perhaps the minister needs replacing!

Africa : Botswana: Government stops hunting near parks, game reserves
on 2009/3/6 15:15:04

MAUN - Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila left Khwai on Friday without agreeing with some residents on whether government should or should not stop hunting tourism.

The minister was in the village to inform residents about government plans to stop hunting activities in areas near national parks and game reserves.

He also told the residents, who run the Khwai Development Trust, that it appears the money raised through hunting quotas was being misappropriated by board members.

"We have for 18 years allowed communities to freely manage themselves in community trusts but what worries me is that now people have started to use these resources to enrich themselves," he said.

He said discussed with stakeholders to identify the problems in Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM).

"The board of trustees cannot decide on how to use funds on their own without consulting the community," Mr Mokaila noted.

He said the Khwai Trust has for the past eight years made millions in various tourism projects, but what is of utmost concern is whether the funds have benefited the community.

"Some trusts have improved the lives of their residents while in others, the board is the one enjoying the fruits," he noted.

He advised the residents to look at photography tourism as one area they could make money out of as hunting will be ceased.

The trust has advertised in local newspapers for companies to enter into joint venture arrangement in management of Community Multi-purpose Controlled Hunting Area NG 18 for a nine-year period.

Minister Mokaila requested the residents to withdraw the advert so that they could remove the hunting issue, as government has decided to stop hunting in areas near parks and game reserves.

"What we could only do is to allow for a one-year contract after which the hunting activity stops in this area," Mr Mokaila said.

Some residents did not agree with the minister, saying they did not understand, while others felt comfortable with the idea of stopping hunting in the area.

"Photo tourism is the way to go as it would give you the chance of employment for a 12 month period, whereas in hunting, you get employment for only six months as it is seasonal," Mr Mokaila emphasised.

One of the residents, Mr Kealeta Motswadi agreed with the idea of photo tourism agreeing with the minister that it would give more people the opportunity to get employment.

The minister promised to visit the area again as it appeared from residents' comments that there are many issues that needed to be addressed. Residents murmured in groups after the meeting as some said they were not satisfied with the idea of stopping hunting. BOPA

http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=200...s_game_reserves