Africa-Press – Namibia. Chief Boniface Lutibezi Shufu of the Mayeyi Traditional Authority has expressed concern that designating over 40% of communal land for biodiversity protection has unintentionally marginalised a significant part of his community.
Speaking on Sunday at the Annual Batsara Cultural Festival, where Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare was the guest of honour, Shufu explained that most of his communities live within conservancies and next to national parks like Mudumu and Nkasa-Rupara.
This has caused issues such as crop destruction, livestock predation, limited access to traditional resources, and health risks, he said.
“The biggest challenge my community faces is human-wildlife conflict,” Shufu’s speech, read by Belden Liswaniso, emphasised.
He highlighted the urgent need for legal and policy reforms to protect and empower these communities, ensuring their inclusion in national development and conservation benefits.
Shufu also pointed out the link between culture and natural resources that support his community’s well-being and identity, calling on the government to develop effective strategies to benefit them.
He also lamented that despite their close proximity to rich biodiversity, his community is legally restricted from using key resources within the parks, including grazing land for livestock, thatch grass, timber for housing, fishing, and traditional plant medicines.
He urged swift reforms in sectors that would directly benefit the communities.
Ngurare acknowledged the chief’s concerns and stated that the government is committed to helping all Namibians in line with the development agenda outlined in the Swapo Party Election Manifesto and the Sixth National Development Plan. This year’s cultural festival was held under the theme ‘Promoting Culture for Natural Resource Benefits.’
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