Mmegi

The ‘trapped’ Western panhandle villages

Losing battle: Villagers in the north-west fight endless wars against wildlife. The communities in four Western panhandle villages have found a solution for themselves PIC: USAID
Losing battle: Villagers in the north-west fight endless wars against wildlife. The communities in four Western panhandle villages have found a solution for themselves PIC: USAID

Stuck between rampaging wildlife and few income options, the people of four villages in the Delta's Western panhandle are pioneering sustainable wildlife solutions. If only the Land Board would play its part, they say. MBONGENI MGUNI writes

Villagers in Tubu in the Western panhandle are getting desperate. While other areas in the north-west enjoy healthy seasonal incomes from their controlled hunting quotas, Tubu villagers believe their allocation is too small especially when compared to the damage wildlife, particularly elephants, cause to their limited attempts at subsistence agriculture.

Controlled hunting quotas are designed to ensure communities benefit from the values of the wildlife resource. The revenues received by communities from the quotas also strengthen the sense of stewardship of these animals for their conservation.

Editor's Comment
SADC must see its words become action

An election is held in a member state, international observers raise concerns, but the Southern African Development Community (SADC) often remains silent or offers only gentle, diplomatic praise. This has led to a widespread belief that the regional body prioritises solidarity amongst governments over the democratic rights of ordinary citizens. This is why the preliminary statement from the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) on...

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