Boko slams gov�t on human/wildlife conflict
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday December 2, 2016 15:49
He said Section 4 of the Constitution spells out that every human being has a right to life and livelihood. He said the Constitution further gives humans the power to defend their lives and property when it is threatened and take the life of the assailant. “The Constitution here is talking about a threat by another person.
You can imagine what it would say when that threat is coming from an animal,” Boko said. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gaborone Bonnington North slammed government for the way it deals with instances whereby lives of humans is threatened by animals saying it is wrong, unlawful and unconstitutional.
“When your life is threatened or you are attacked by a lion, you are entitled to kill the lion. That’s what the Constitution says.” He stated that the ministry should try to work out a way of managing the human-wildlife conflict by arranging precise incentives, which will make people not to kill wildlife when it's damaging their property. He called for proper compensation and legislative review. “It is an unacceptable environment when people are not compensated well. Review seriously the legislative framework, where property is destroyed by wildlife. Currently, the legislative framework is woefully inadequate.”
Boko also challenged government to let Basarwa enjoy their lifestyle. He advised government to learn from Basarwa, whom he described as the “best conservationists”. He also said Basarwa should be permitted to hunt to meet their nutritional requirements. Echoing Boko’s comments, the MP for Chobe Machana Shamukuni was disappointment that the NDP 11 does not address the human-wildlife conflict. He said people from his area, which is populated by elephants, have given up on farming and kraaling their livestock.
He further said he was disappointed after Minister Tshekedi Khama proposed during a global wildlife summit in Johannesburg that elephants should be enlisted in appendix 1. Elephants in Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, are listed on less stringent Appendix 2.