Nkurenkuru: Kapako Constituency councillor Augustinus Kupembona has criticised the current Human-Wildlife Conflict policy as 'inhumane', saying it fails to reflect how riverine communities in Kavango West actually live and survive.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Kupembona made his remarks during a stakeholder engagement by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Nkurenkuru on Tuesday. He highlighted a tragic incident involving a young boy who was killed by a crocodile while at the river. The ministry refused compensation because the child was 'bathing' and not 'fishing', as required by the policy.

Kupembona explained that the official report stated the boy was taking a bath in the river, and therefore, the ministry could not offer compensation as bathing is not covered under the current policy. He criticized the policy as 'a very inhuman policy' that disregards local realities, as for communities along the river, bathing and fishing often occur simultaneously due to the lack of water access at home.

He urged communities to actively engage in policy discussions, emphasizing that participation is crucial for change. 'You can't change things unless you take part. The first thing is, come join the table and have a voice,' he stressed, urging leaders to advocate for fairer treatment of victims of crocodile attacks and other wildlife incidents.

Deputy Director for Wildlife and National Parks for the North-East Regions, Apollinaris Kannyinga, confirmed that the Human-Wildlife Conflict Self-Reliance Scheme is scheduled for revision. He acknowledged that the current rules do not cover individuals injured or killed while swimming or bathing.

Kannyinga elaborated that the fund is primarily sustained through game product sales and conservation fees, with no direct treasury funding. However, he noted that park entrance fees indirectly contribute to the fund. He also pointed out that broader conservation status, such as a wildlife dispersal area linked to a recognized programme, could offer additional support.

Kupembona called for increased political involvement and clearer benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure river communities facing human-wildlife conflict are not left unsupported.