Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has handed over four refurbished capture trucks to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks recently, Major General Molefi Seikano said the successful completion of the general maintenance and repair of the capture trucks would enable DWNP to achieve its mandate.
“The capture trucks are a crucial resource to the department’s use to catch and distribute captured wildlife species to farmers around the country,” Major Gen. Seikano said.
He said the trucks would also facilitate government policy on wildlife management and the DWNP was better placed to carry out their mandate with relative ease.
“The handing over also speaks to the role played by the BDF in supporting government initiative through DWNP that gives Batswana an opportunity to actively participate in the Masimo wildlife project together with improving their contribution in the wildlife and tourism value chain,” he added.
He said the tradition of mutual collaboration and inter-agency cooperation between the organisations dated back to 1987 and related to protecting the nation’s flora and fauna.
He added that the department had to allow Batswana to keep selected wildlife species in their agricultural farm lands in line with government’s initiative of encouraging them to participate in the wildlife value chain development.
“It is no doubt and clear to Batswana that wildlife resources in Botswana continue to contribute positively to the national income as the sector is the new engine of economic growth, presenting opportunities for the country’s economic development through job creation and revenue generation,” he said. As such, he said, BDF recommitted to continue supporting DWNP as part of its mandate to aid civil authority as well as ensure security and safety of national wildlife resources.
He further said the BDF continued to deploy soldiers and other resources along the borders and across the country in anti-poaching operations to combat poaching, curb illicit trade in wildlife species and their associated products.
He thanked corps of electrical engineers for the splendid service delivery and astute professionalism in the completion of the vehicle rehabilitation within the stipulated timeline, something he said would greatly benefit the DWNP and further fortify the mutual cooperation.
Giving the project overview, Colonel Allen Baalora said the project commenced on April 10 and was completed on April 28.
Col. Baalora said they prioritised the project hence they managed to deliver it in three weeks despite labour constraints, having to work with only eight personnel.
He added that refurbishment of the four trucks included repairing their body, change paint colour from white to the olive green and general repairs.
For his part, DWNP director, Dr Kabelo Senyatso thanked the BDF for the refurbished trucks, which he said would ease their work.
He also appreciated BDF’s commitment in helping the department achieve its mandate.
“I send best regards to the commander of the BDF as he created a fantastic opportunity for us to be receiving the trucks from them through our mutual cooperation”.
He added that by supporting the game in masimo initiative, the BDF was giving Batswana an opportunity to the wildlife value chain.
“Batswana will now be empowered to have access to game in masimo as the trucks will become handy in them carrying out their work. Apart from supporting people in groups, game in masimo gives individual Batswana an opportunity to own game in their farms,” he added.
He indicated that the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act provided guidance on the management of game ranches as well as keeping of wildlife while Wildlife Policy of 2013 was meant to put into operation the aspirations of the Act.
Dr Senyatso said they had, since October 2021, received 285 applications out of which 257 had been approved for participation in keeping game in masimo.
“We then realised the challenge of accessing game in masimo for start-up wildlife and the decision was taken by government to assist Batswana which included five species being gemsbok, eland, zebra, warthog and impala,” he added.
Dr Senyatso thanked the BDF for being the first to assist with provision of wildlife species from their camp at Glen Valley and committing resources during the capture of the animals.
He said so far, 67 Batswana farmers had wildlife species in their farms totaling to 377 animals, largely in Kweneng, Kgatleng, North West, Palapye and Mahalapye districts.
Meanwhile, 3 Brigade Group Commander, Brigadier Thomas Masunga said the inter-agency collaboration enhanced national security and the trucks would greatly benefit the DWNP.
“Completion of the trucks is a sign that if we work together we can do so much and achieve great things,” Brigadier Masunga said
He added that the initiative cemented their relationship and in turn benefited Batswana.
He thanked all who worked towards the timely completion of the project.
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