�Wild about Botswana�
Friday, January 08, 2016

Baobab Silhouettes at Kubu Island
One of the world’s unique ecosystems, the Okavango Delta, is located in Botswana and was inscribed as the 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
The Delta boasts robust populations of some of the world’s most endangered large mammals such as cheetah, white and black rhinoceros, wild dog and lion, all adapted to living in this wetland system. The Delta’s habitats are species rich with 1061 plants, 89 fish, 64 reptiles, 482 species of birds and 130 species of mammals.
While every citizen, including the Head of State, has the right to voice opinions, the tone and context of the President’s comments were regrettably dismissive and risk chilling free expression in our country. The remarks are not isolated. They form part of a disturbing pattern of public attacks on independent institutions pillars essential to the healthy functioning of our democracy. The Judiciary, the Legislature, and now the media have all...