Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) Pohamba Shifeta said the prohibition of cattle grazing in the Bwabwata National Park majorly is for economical purposes as the park falls under the zoned area in the Zambezi to protect against foot and mouth disease.
Shifeta said this during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs hearing here on Thursday, following several requests by the Hambukushu Traditional Authority requesting Government to allow their cattle to graze in the area.
Cabinet resolution of 1999 states that no cattle be allowed in Bwabwata National Park or any other game park in the north-eastern regions.
“Scientific explanation by the first technical committee before the Cabinet resolution of 1999 resolved the directive of what to be allowed and what not to be allowed and the negative impact thereof on the economy. The foot and mouth disease is one of the main reasons why cattle are not allowed to graze in the park,” he noted.
He further explained that national parks are protected areas and the ministry cannot allow cattle and people to access these areas posing wildlife threats.
“People just want grazing opportunities but do not think of the consequences… that even your own cattle can be destroyed totally just because amongst them there is one infected with the disease… or it can become a cattle reforming park and we cannot entertain that,” he said.
At the same occasion, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Tjekero Tweya said the Hambukushu community have been “crying” to their government for a very long time, stressing that they have written letters to former President Hifikepunye Pohamba and current President Hage Geingob, who both directed the relevant ministries, including MEFT to consult with the communities on the matter.
“We can conclude that the ministry has failed the directives of both presidents… Our findings say the ministry has never even availed an ear to this community due to busy schedules… however the minister has been several times in the same areas,” he said.
Other recommendations contained in the petition which was submitted to the National Assembly on 19 November 2021 include the implementation of the promised tourism development in the Mahango Core Area that will benefit the Hambukushu community.
It also said the Hambukushu Traditional Authority should be allocated a farming unit within the Bwabwata area and must be considered by the government and that proclamation of Bwabwata National Park of 2007 is “illegal” and must be revisited.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
