Dear Editor ,
Allow me space in your newspaper, to comment on Salambala Conservation Area which is not so friendly to residents.
Number of issues are noted with Salambala Conservation Area. Guards or Ministry of Environment and Tourism official
Game Wardens. Having the ability to fine or imprison local poor people travelling distances, by walking between the following areas: Sikanjabuka, Tololi, Chizungwe, Iseke, Bwara, Muyako, Ngala, Mahundu, Ibbu, Vuluha, Mutikitila, Ioma and Marasberg crossing in Salambala Conservation area by gravel road which passes through Salambala as a short distance, heading to: 31, 33, 34 and 35 miles, Munihango village, Sizimbukwa, Izimwe and Lusese area.
Nevertheless “villagers” once they meet the Environment and Tourism Official Game Wardens most of the time those Officials they are armed.
The stories of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Game Wardens, using violence towards local people are common in those areas, example if they find an old men travelling with his private pistol or weapon for security reason looking messing cattle he might be stopped, interrogated or beaten.
Those listed actions above, challenging the laws of local support in conservancy or protected areas that show a more complex side to the principal of local support, in details it looks at powers, which is at the core center of the law of local support.
Power is an extremely complex is which it’s most basic a measure of the ability of someone to do something, such as the ability of conservationists to make local people behave in a particular way, or vice-versa. The law of local support applies that local people are powerful relative to protected areas, because people can make conservation fail should they dislike it, and they can force a change in conservation laws.
However, we all remember that The New-Era-Newspaper dated Friday, October 24, 2014 reported to the nation that Kawanas’s driver with two (2) other family members were heading to Mutikilita, they were reportedly travelling in the official vehicle of the Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr. Albert Kawana .One might ask the Authority those officials have to stop a VIP vehicle with the Government Registration Number plate (GRN) and search the car.
Nevertheless, the friendship between Salambala Conservation Guards, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Game Wardens and local communities are of vital importance to increase biodiversity Conservation in the region.
A good understanding of how they interact, influence and shape one another allows and Conserve the area ‘s biodiversity while maximizing benefits or minimizing Costs, to the population living in and around Salambala Conservation Area, who are often amongst the most marginalized groups in the society.
Adrian Phillips, argues that “any approach that marginalizes the local community in decision making is doomed to failure, and that there is an ‘iron rule that no protected area can succeed for long in the teeth of local opposition.
Contact details :- +264 81 423 8218.
e-mail: liswa100@rocketmail.com
SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) Regional Secretary for Information, Publicity and Mobilization, Omaheke Region. This article is written in his personal capacity.
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