Dept of Wildlife accused of racism
Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday June 23, 2016 15:50
Presenting before the Parliamentary portfolio committee on wildlife, tourism and natural resources on Tuesday, Kgaga said a Motswana guide, Onneile Thapi was allegedly fired from work by his employer after he reported a white manager, Shaun Malan to DWNP for illegally keeping a protected African python at Mochaba camp lodge in the Okavango Delta.
Kgaga told the committee that Thapi was blacklisted by white owned tourism companies in the area. “White owned companies work in unison, they can collude against hiring people deemed dangerous to their interests,” he said.
He said no action was taken by DWNP against the white manager. He said Ngamiland district wildlife coordinator Timmy Blackbeard went to the crime scene, took the python and released it back into the wild but took no further action.
Kgaga said they are suspicious that Malan was not charged because he is white. The BOGA leader stated that this defeats existing wildlife protection protocols, citing the honorary game wardens initiative where guides were enlisted to help curb poaching.
He said it is surprising that when guides warn government against such incidents suspects are set free.
Committee member, Bagalatia Aron said the matter was reported to him and he has requested Blackbeard to re-investigate the issue. The legislator said the committee will investigate the issue and ensure that the employer reinstates Thapi.
Aron said he has been informed that the manager had been involved in more wildlife trafficking cases from Botswana to South Africa.
Efforts to reach Blackbeard and Mochaba management camp were futile at the time of going to press. The company however has previously stated that Malan had intended to use the python to shoot promotional photographs to use in marketing the lodge.
An officer at the company who spoke on condition of anonymity said the company has instituted disciplinary actions against Malan.
He said the company has written him a warning letter for illegal possession of wildlife. On issues that Thapi has been blacklisted, the officer said this is untrue adding that Thapi is currently on a 15-day freelance guiding trip in the Okavango Delta.
He also quashed sentiments that Thapi was fired for whistle blowing revealing that the company resolved not to renew his contract in January for poor performance.
BOGA is an association that promotes the interests of the guides.