Community trusts face collapse as hunting ban bites

Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism has not yet delivered on its earlier promise that it would financially assist community trusts that were dependent on revenue from hunting during the duration of the hunting ban. In an interview with Sunday Standard, Onkeme Mmolainyana of Mababe Community Trust in Ngamiland revealed that when the hunting ban was imposed, officials from the Ministry came and assured them that it will not affect them in any way because the trusts will be given assistance so that they stay afloat.
‘’Officials from the ministry came and assured us that we will be assisted financially for a short period to help us during this transition from hunting safaris to photographic safari. That was the last time we saw them. They never came back to us and we have not been assisted in any way’’ he said.
He also revealed that the officers informed them that the money would be available immediately as it was to sourced from the National Environmental Fund. He said they were very hopeful that they would continue operating with no hurdles, only to be disappointed after the government officials failed to deliver on the promise.
Read more in the latest Sunday Standard http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=20577&GroupID=1