Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Wool and Mohair Promotion Project (WAMPP) working together with the Department of Range Resource Management (DRRM) under the Ministry of Forestry Range and Soil Conservation held a discussion meeting on Climate-Smart Rangeland Management in an effort to improve the relevant legislative framework in order to bolter regulations of rangelands on Wednesday.
The discussion was between members of the Senate, the Members of Parliament (MP) as well as the Principal Chiefs. Speaking at the meeting, Range Management Officer Ramatlotlo Rampai highlighted that rangeland management will follow the draft bill after its discussion and revision by the involved parties.
He stated that the range resources management bill 2021 is an Act to provide for range resources administration, conservation of rangeland and incidental matters enacted by the Parliament of Lesotho.
Rampai highlighted that some of the objectives of the Act is to promote sustainable use of rangeland resources to preserve the ecological character of that area, to protect and conserve wetland and riparian areas, to guide and support grazing associations, to regulate fodder importation and promote stall feeding with relevant line ministries, to regulate access to rangeland by range resources users, strengthen and provide support to local government structures at community level and to develop guideline and procedures to be followed when carrying out infrastructural works at the rangeland.
He noted that the minister shall, by notice, publish the gazette and in consultation with relevant line ministries, declare an area as a rangeland and subject to protection and preservation, zoned and declined rangeland as well as specific wetland and riparian areas as protected areas and regulate entry and access to the resources.
Rampai pointed out some of the functions and roles of the Minister, saying; “The Minister shall issue guidelines and conditions under which the rangeland may be used, plan, establish, operate and maintain systems for monitoring the condition and use of rangeland. Direct the preparation and monitor the implementation of remedial plans on rangelands.
Monitor, supervise or cause to be carried out work in order to rectify degradation or other damage to rangeland, monitor and regulate number and types of livestock grazing on rangeland, consider and determine applications for use of rangeland for any other use other than rangeland purpose, hear and determine all questions, consider and make recommendations on all questions, consider and make recommendations on all matters, referred to him by stakeholders in rangeland issues and carry out other functions as imposed by this Act or any other”.
The Range Management Officer extended that some of the responsibilities of the Minister which is to direct any person with expertise to enter the rangeland and assess the rangeland heath, develop and monitor the cattle post management plans in consultation with principal chiefs and develop and maintain on a contributing basis, an inventory of rangeland for specific period of time in order to impose rangeland conditions.
. According to Mapoteng Principal Chief Peete Lesaoana Peete, the bill does not favour the Principal Chiefs at all.
“When I read the draft bill there is no where it states the role of the Principal Chief instead it show that of the Minister.
What I would like to see is the indication that stipulate that we as Principal Chiefs have failed thus the draft bill excludes us,” Peete observed. In response to the Principal Chief’s unsatisfactory comments regarding draft bill, MPHon.
Motlatsi Maqelepo stated that there is a possibility that thorough research was not made. Maqelepo indicated that Lesotho has experienced bad land management for the past decades and therefore needs improvement.
“In the draft bill where it is written role of minister, it is not the minister as a person, it means the ministry as a whole and all relevant parties involved, also experts in that field, so the functions of the Principal Chiefs should also be indicated and those of the ministry as to coordinate in working together,” Maqelepo noted.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
