12 May 2024

Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) is grappling with  illegal allocation of ploughing fields in its concession NG32, located in the heart of Okavango Delta, to the north of the buffalo fence and to the south of the Moremi Game Reserve.

The trust general manager, Mr Seikaneng Moepedi said during the annual general meeting that they learnt that some farms would be changed into tourism enterprises regardless of intended land use by the trust.

The OKMCT Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme, he said was granted NG32 to operate tourism activities not farming as it was the case now.

“We are experiencing the scramble for NG32 and this will results in the scramble for our prestigious delta. Currently investigations surrounding the ploughing fields are ongoing,” he said, adding that the trust incurred expenses in the matter.

Mr Moepedi further said farm owners who paraded as investors and supporting some people in the concession had brought division amongst the communities, and had also resulted in some companies operating without tourism licenses.

Despite efforts by OKMCT to set regulations and procedures in terms of bringing developments into NG32 and to stress that the trust management plan should be practiced and followed at all times, illegal farmers were not respecting that.

Efforts, he said were also made to write to relevant authorities as the camps continued to operate  and receive guests without tourism licenses, adding that it was disheartening as some camps had taken the trust to court over the issue.

Some investors, he said had declared a war and were not respecting laws of the country and continued to have cause  havoc and drive wedge between communities in NG32.

He said last year there was a burning issue of mushrooming of farms in the delta leading to commissioning of a task force to investigate the matter as the farms had been turned into lodges and camps. 

It was also reported that there were illegal photographic activities caused by such camps and lodges which resulted in conflicts with trust joint ventures as they trespassed into their zones. 

On other issues, Mr Moepedi informed the gathering that the trust had managed to fence Xuoxao farm and connected solar power to prevent damage by wildlife.

The trust, he said also entered into a partnership with Save Wildlife Fund to help the trust undertake commercial farming in the farm noting that through the partnership, some youth had been trained by Save Wildlife.

Once the farm was operational, he said, the farming project would help the trust improve its revenue flow as well as improve food sufficiency in the area.

For financial year 2023/24, Mr Moepedi mentioned that they had produced vegetables for sale and also fed communities.

He said  the government had awarded them a tender to supply four  schools with vegetables.

In 2023, he said they generated over P27 000 while this year they had already accumulated over P13 000 and believed that they could generate better profits going forward. 

Some campsites, he said also showered interest to procure fresh vegetables from the trust.

The meeting also learnt that four members were taken to South Africa where they would be trained as trackers and chefs with help from Ride Botswana Safaris. 

Another four community members mostly males had been trained as guides and on rifle handling.

Mr Moepedi also informed the meeting that the trust managed to undertake some developments projects despite challenging circumstances.

The projects include water reticulation, old age housing for the elderly member of the community. ENDs