US Senators Applaud Botswana Anti-Poaching Efforts
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday February 22, 2016 16:30
“Of the countries that we have visited in the region, Botswana is doing a great job, in Mozambique there are areas where the animals are extinct,” Senator Jeff Flake said. He however said for Botswana to continue doing well there is need for a solution to improve the situation in the whole region as there will always be cross border trafficking of wildlife which may affect the country.
Making the delegation were Flake, Senators Thad Cochran, Christopher Coons, Ben Cardin, and Representative Adam Schiff.
Flake said the US government, which has a long outstanding relationship with Botswana in combating poaching, would assist in finding the regional solution.
The delegation would not categorical state whether they support the Botswana Government’s shoot-to-kill position.
“We have found that poachers in other countries are heavily armed and dangerous. It is important that strong credible means to deal with them are in place,” Schiff said, adding that it is important that the Anti-Poaching personnel are protected.
Schiff also said they were impressed by the relationship they have between the authorities and village leadership in the Okavango area stating that it helps in coming up with long term ways of dealing with the human/ wildlife conflict. He said in some countries they found that people would poison wildlife while in Botswana there is a good relationship.
Ambassador Earl Miller said the delegation has already visited Zimbabwe and Mozambique and would leave for Namibia. Miller said the trip was important in an era where elephants and rhinos face extinction. “This is a part of the US government affirming commitment to combating poaching and addressing challenges in the human wildlife relationship.”
He said the delegation met with the Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and some ministers, the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, Anti-Poaching units and community leaders.