28 Nov 2024

The establishment of the Chobe Game Reserve and subsequently Chobe National Park between 1961 and 1968 resulted in the relocation of employees who were in Serondela working for a timber company. 

Responding to a parliamentary question on Monday, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Micus Chimbombi said enquiries revealed that the residents were the employees of the company and the permanent structures were put up by the company to accommodate its staff.

Besides, he said the area used to be hunting grounds. 

Dr Chimbombi said the available information indicated that there were no families who were affected by the establishment of the national park who deserved to be compensated as nobody was removed from their land. 

He noted that Botswana did not have a policy for royalty payments. Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga had asked whether government compensated the families that were relocated during the establishment of Chobe Game Reserve and subsequently Chobe National Park between 1961 to 1968 and also from Palamaukuwe to the current Kasane location. 

He also wanted to know the position of the affected families economically and how the government intended to compensate for the loss of their ancestral lands as well as whether government would establish royalty life payments to such families for disposition. Ends