Author: Albertina Nakale (Albertina Nakale )

As part of conservation efforts, the environment and tourism ministry has allocated hunting quotas for animals adjacent to the Bwabwata National Park and for the Kyaramacan Association members living inside the park.

The environment and tourism ministry has expressed dismay and disappointment with utterances made by the ombudsman’s office, which claimed the ministry is failing to strike a balance in dealing with cases of human-wildlife conflict. 

Although wild ducks are attractive and sometimes entertaining birds, the Kalimbeza rice project sees them as a menace as they destroy young rice yields. 

A pressure group from the Zambezi region says the Bwabwata National Park should remain untouched and undivided to benefit the tourism sector by empowering marginalised groups who have lived in the area since time immemorial. 

The Khwe (San) community living in Bwabwata National Park has claimed “oppressive practices” perpetrated against them when it comes to their rights as Namibians.

The Otjozondjupa region, strategically located in the heart of Namibia, boasts a diverse population, massive agricultural production, mining operations and has made great strides towards housing provision. 

Hambukushu Traditional Authority leaders came out guns blazing this week by accusing the government of tampering with their livelihoods in the Bwabwata National Park as opposed to wildlife.

Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta expressed concern that there is evidence that agricultural dryland productivity in the region is negatively declining due to climate change impacts.