02 Oct 2024

Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT) success story has positioned the community entity as an excellent model in conserving natural resources and building viable projects that sustain communities.

It was established 30 years ago through Community Based Natural resources Management (CBNRM) policy and has championed and cultivated natural resources beneficiation while instilling conservation principles for people to coexist with wildlife.

In recognition of their endeavors, the trust received international recognition at the 2022 African Leadership Forum as the second runner-up in the leading in progressive policies category.

The financial statements of the trust presented at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March this year revealed that CECT generated a total income of P15.8 million in 2023.

A total of P8.7 million spawned from hunting, P3.9 million photographic concession fees, P1.7 million from variable community fees generated from Ngoma Lodge revenue, P540 000 from general dealer sales, P500 000 tractor income, P316 000 brick moulding sales.

Villages constituting CECT are Mabele, Kavimba, Kachikau, Satau as well as Parakarungu and each received P1.6 million from the 2023 income, which were channeled towards village projects.

In an interview, CECT General Manager, Mr Moses Sinchembe stated that CECT was able to attract investors and in return generate income injected back into the community through their good governance and conservation strategies.

Mr Sinchembe indicated that the trust has leased out land in Ngoma and Linyanti of which the rentals accrued helped them acquire two general dealers in Mabele and Parakarungu.

They also acquired a milling company in Parakarungu, brick moulding projects in Kavimba and Satau, eight ploughing tractors, which promoted food security.

He stated that issuing of hunting quotas in their concessions was a cash cow, which is why CECT board chairperson, Mr Poniso Shamukuni formed part of the team that went to London to lobby against the trophy hunting Ban, where he delivered a presentation on the impact of human-wildlife conflict.

Underscoring their conservation strategies, the manager pointed out that the CECT board comprised of a trans-boundary sub-committee charged with the responsibility of educating the community on conservation.

He stated that CECT signed a trans-boundary Memorandum of Agreement with their Namibian counterparts Salambala and Bamunu conservancies for joint patrols and conservation of natural resources along the shared border. “Our AGMs are not only aimed at bringing reports but a platform to educate the rest of Chobe Enclave communities on the importance of conservation, human-wildlife conflict mitigations and wildlife and environmental advocacy,” he said.

Mr Sinchembe indicated that in the past, people built temporary house structures from reeds and tree logs, which depleted the environment.

He however said with the establishment of brick moulding depot, Chobe Enclave communities bought bricks at a subsidised price, which relieved the strain on the environment.

The manager highlighted that it was essential that community trusts abided to principles of governance and understood the objectives of the CBNRM policy to ensure maximum benefits to communities.

“As a community entity we understand that the objectives of trusts was to give responsibilities to communities existing around natural resources like wildlife, rivers, and heritage sites to manage and safeguard them while deriving benefits from those sources sustainably,” he said. ENDS