DWNP weighs options as farmer payouts reach P100m

DWNP director, Moemedi Batshabang, told Mmegi this week that for every pula paid out to affected victims of HWC, three more pula were used for administration. For the 2023-24 financial year, the Department paid out P25 million, but effectively P100 million was used to compensate farmers and other citizens for damages and losses.

“When there is a case, it has to be attended to by officers, driving around and there is also the whole administration process of paying,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting on sustainable wildlife management. “You have to investigate and verify cases which is where part of the administration costs go in because you can’t just pay out money. “Imagine someone turns up in the morning and says my cows have been eaten and they expect a cheque. “We don’t just disburse. That would not be auditable.”