mmegi

Open letter to SADC Presidents

All for one: Regional leaders during the launch of the Kazungula Bridge PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
All for one: Regional leaders during the launch of the Kazungula Bridge PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

Your Excellencies, as you know, international travel bans linked to COVID-19 have severely reduced tourist visits to our region. But are you also aware that some wildlife management staff and rangers have had to replace the tourist funds lost with new sources of money to meet their salaries ‘outside’ of official procedures?

When these extra sources dry up, wildlife protection will inevitably begin to crumble. That will allow the international poaching syndicates to increase their raids into our national parks and continue to decimate our wildlife.

This doesn’t paint a bright future for wildlife conservation or the wellbeing of citizens living in wildlife areas. The fewer benefits these people receive from wildlife, the less protection they are willing to accord it. Diminished benefits from wildlife, along with the increased pain of poverty, sadly and predictably force them to collaborate with poachers.

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up