Africa-Press – Botswana. Ditshiping community has been informed that the recently revived, Honey Guide Adventure Trust constitution should be in line with Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) policy in order to enjoy support from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Principal district development officer, Mr Neo Mogorosi made the remarks in response to some comments raised by residents during a kgotla meeting where TAC was accused of failing the community and that it was biased in addressing community trust issues.
The issue followed the breakaway of Ditshiping village from the umbrella trust, Okavango, Kopano Mokoro Trust (OKMCT) which served six settlement situated in the Okavango Delta.
Mr Mogorosi explained that the community trust was formed before the implementation of the CBNRM policy which was developed in 1997 and as such, TAC could not facilitate the trust. “Your trust is not registered into the CBNRM policy to enjoy advice from TAC,” he added.
The policy aims to establish a framework that provides incentives for communities to take responsibility for managing natural resources in a sustainable manner; create opportunities for community participation in natural resource management and enhance the relationship between protected areas management and CBNRM.
TAC secretary, Mr Mogotsi Modise said the trust had a constitution and was incorporated into OKMCT which was involved in CBRM programme that offered local communities the opportunity to participate in tourism development and natural resource conservation.
TAC, he said provided advice, but issues of OKMCT were before the court hence it was difficult to advise them.
Earlier on, one of the residents, Mr Kebareng Disho accused TAC for mingling into trust issues and causing conflicts within the community. He admitted that their community trusts was formed before OKMCT. He accused members of TAC of sidelining it to facilitate the formation of OKMCT.
Mr David Boikaego also stated that Honey Guide Adventure Trust should be facilitated and empowered just like OKMCT so that it promoted development of eco-tourism based livelihoods in the Okavango Delta.
“Our trust has a well-established office and it is ready to benefit from CBNRM just like other trusts. Our office is also ready to undertake tourism activities such as making bookings for tourists who want to visit Ditshiping to explore mokoro excursion in the delta. The trust has also secured partners who want to help in developing our village,” he added.
Mr Boikaego said TAC was bias as it favoured OKMCT over their trust citing that when they requested assistance such as application for licence, they were referred to Gaborone while other community trusts were assisted locally.
Meanwhile, OKMCT chairperson, Mr Galetsose Manga dismissed reports that they had sponsored some villagers to oppose the revival of the community trust, noting that his board was newly elected into office.
He said the trust stopped bringing services to Ditshiping following advice from office of the deputy district commissioner since the village pulled out from OKMCT. He noted that they had re-opened the borehole as per the advice from the same office and handed over the keys to village development committee.
An audit exercise of the trust assets, he said, was on going adding that the report would map the way forward in regard of division of assets.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
