BWParliament
14 Std.
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗕𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗗𝗨-𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗠𝗔 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝟮𝟰 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦.
𝗕𝗬 𝗛𝗢𝗡. 𝗪𝗬𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗦𝗢 𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗜
𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗠
𝗙𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
𝟭. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for according me an opportunity to address this Honourable House on the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at a Kgotla meeting we addressed on Kasane on the 7th January 2025.
𝟮. Mr. Speaker, the Sedudu-Ngoma trans t route traversing the Chobe National Park has been restrictive on the public movement between Chobe West and Chobe East. Entry into Chobe National Park is regulated by the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act of 1992 and its associated National Parks and Game Reserves Regulations of 2000 that provides for entry and exit times into National Parks and Game Reserves.
𝟯. Mr. Speaker, currently the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act and its Regulations states from 1st April to 30th September, the Park opens at 0600 hours and closes at 1830 hours. From 1st October to 31st March, the Park opens at 0530 hours and closes at 1900 hours. Notwithstanding all these restrictions, Mr. Speaker, isolated cases of emergency have always been allowed access around the clock to and from the Chobe Enclave villages.
𝟰. Mr. Speaker, the House should appreciate the security and human and wildlife safety considerations that have influenced the current position of operating hours of the route. As you may be aware, Chobe National Park is in close proximity to three international boundaries making it prone and susceptible to cross boundary wildlife related crimes. The proximity of the Park to international boundaries made law enforcement a considerable challenge that needed operational space, particularly at night when poachers were most active to avoid accidents.
𝟱. Further, Chobe National Park is very rich in biodiversity hosting the highest concentration of elephants and a significant number of other species such as buffalo, zebra, sable & roan antelopes amongst others. This makes the possibility of the collision with wildlife high at night, which is exacerbated by the fact that the animals move across the road to and from their grazing grounds and the water source at Chobe river.
𝟲. The above notwithstanding Mr. Speaker, after careful consideration of the pleas of the communities of Chobe in a Kgotla meeting we addressed on the 21st January 2025 in Kgaphamadi Ward, in Kasane, the Ministry has taken a decision to open the Sedudu Ngoma transit route 24 hours effective 1st April 2025. It is imperative that we allow people to enjoy their freedom of movement as enshrined in the Constitution of Botswana. Mr Speaker, this is testament that as the new Government in the new Botswana, we are a human rights centric Government and consider the voices and pleas of Batswana to ensure they live their lives freely. This will ensure that Batswana residing in Chobe West participate actively and freely in the economy of our beloved Country.
𝟳. Mr. Speaker, I do acknowledge the challenges that unrestricted movement along this route may cause, including increased resource needs. However, Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism will put in place measures that will facilitate free movement of people while minimizing risks associated with this initiative. Some of the activities geared towards facilitating the initiative is concerted engagement with relevant stakeholders; conduct sensitisation campaigns and programmes for transit users on animal behaviors, wildlife interactions and safety protocols; improved road signage and increased patrols (day and night patrols) along the route.
𝟴. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion I want to reiterate our commitment to a human based approach to governance in the new Botswana.
I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Gruß Gina
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