Illegal Phane harvesters could face jail
Maranyane Ngwanaamotho | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:54
In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry advised exporters to obtain the Harvesting, Dealers and Export permits and licenses so as trade in different countries as per the requirements for those countries. Harvesters were also advised to seek permission from landowners or farms to enter for harvesting.
Failure to seek that consent is an offence punishable by law.
Further potential exporters are advised to contact country embassies to obtain information on licenses and or permits which will allow them to trade in different neighbouring countries.
The ministry stated that subject to provisions of the Agricultural Resources Conservation Act (Cap 35: 06) and its associated regulations, any person who wishes to deal in or export any veld product must obtain a dealer and or export permit for that product.
Further, any person who contravenes these regulations, or who makes a false statement in order to obtain a harvesting, dealer or export permit commits an offence and is liable to a fine or imprisonment or both.
Phane politics started back in 2002. The Member of Parliament for Tonota Pono Moatlhodi had complained that Zimbabwean and South African nationals were competing with locals to harvest the delicacy.
The then Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Pelonomi Venson told Parliament that the government was to introduce a new legislation to govern the harvesting of phane worm.
She announced that her ministry was drafting a policy on community-based natural resources management to streamline the use of all veld products including phane.
“The thrust of the policy is the involvement of Batswana in the management of veld resources.
The policy will create the framework to implement a permit and licensing structure, and will therefore help regulate access to and introduce controls into harvesting of veld products,” Venson said at the time.
Venson said the Agricultural Resources Board would monitor the harvesting of the worms and educate harvesters on sustainable methods. Further relevant sections of the Agricultural Resource Conservation Act would be reviewed for the introduction of licenses and permits, and regulated access to the use of veld products in the country.
Last year, the government said in a statement that traders could only sell phane to licensed businesses across the border and not to individuals.