25 Oct 2024

The board of the newly registered The Fauna Conservation Trust of Ngamiland has applauded President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi for being supportive and instrumental in restoring ownership of the Maun Educational Park to the Batawana community. 

In recognition of his support, they intend to invite him to a thanksgiving and official handing over of the parks’ lease or title deed. 

The park has been a bone of contention between Batawana and government as the community sought reversal of the ownership of the facility, which has been under the management of the department of Wildlife and National Parks. 

The park was established in 1972 as a microcosm of Ngamiland’s great wilderness area to serve as leisure and education amenity for school-going children and visitors. It was handed over to the tribe in 2022 after protracted engagement with state authorities. 

“Indeed it is a big achievement that President Masisi took a bold decision to restore Batawana their asset and currently, we are waiting for the Tawana Land board to issue us with the certificate as plans are underway to develop it and we will be glad if he (President) can do the handing over of the certificate,” said Mr Tiego Mpho, who is the interim board chairperson. 

He made the remarks when briefing the district leadership about the board’s intentions with regard to the development of the park. 

He appreciated that President Dr Masisi viewed the park as the site for the Maun science park which would contribute to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 

He said they had a good proposal to establish a state-of-the-art environmental education and science park. 

Currently, the community, he said, had mobilised funding for re-fencing of the park and re-equipped two boreholes, noting that the trust had also entered into an agreement with CONNECT (formerly Rhino Conservation Botswana) for management of the park. 

Despite the proposed plans for the park, Mr Mpho requested the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute to continue using part of the park for training and assessment of learners. 

The institution had been using the park for demonstration and assessment for those who want to get licenses. 

Other accomplishments for the trust, he said, included the opening of an account and bidding for the Botswana Tourism Organisation advertised NG42 in partnership with the Conserve Global organisation. 

He said the trust was also in talks with several organisations, acknowledging that they had also received three laptops from JCB Botswana. 

Another board member, Mr Keloitsang Ledimo concurred that the restoration of the ownership of the park to Batawana was a big achievement. 

However, he decried vandalism, untidiness and theft at the park, saying people were cutting the fence and killing animals.

He appreciated the community’s support to raise funds towards re-fencing. 

He said efforts were also made to engage relevant departments to consider reducing the wildlife population in the park so that they remained with a manageable number.

“Some animals such as baboons are terrorising residents residing adjacent to the park but the situation is better as the park is patrolled on daily basis since our partnership with CONNECT,” he added. ends