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The Namibian, 28.04.2016
VICTIMS of human−wildlife conflict (HWC) in the Zambezi region are pushing for higher monetary compensation for their suffering.
Currently, conservancies pay out about N$1 500 per animal killed or attacked inside a kraal; about N$200 per hectare for crops eaten, trampled or damaged by wild animals; and about N$5 000 for human life lost or injured.
At a public meeting held at Ngoma on Tuesday, community members told a National Assembly (NA) Parliamentary Standing Committee that dangerous wild animals are continuing to cause significant damage to their crops, killing their livestock and taking human lives, while the pay−outs help very little.
The committee of seven MPs, led by Agnes Kafula, are investigating HWC in the region, after which a report will be compiled for parliament to make recommendations.
The deputy minister of environment and tourism (MET), Tommy Nambahu, admitted during a conservancy chairperson forum on Monday that there is no clear policy on resolving HWC, and pledged that the 2009 National Policy on HWC will be discussed in the NA this year.
The Ngoma area borders the Chobe National Park in Botswana, where wild animals cross the Chobe River into Namibia to hunt or graze.
A community member, Kawaile Siyauya, said conservancies should double compensation pay−outs as those affected are losing more than what they are paid.
Siyauya suggested N$100 000 for a life lost from wild animal attacks, and N$1 500 for damaged crops.
“The impact of the damage these wild animals cause is large. How can one be paid N$1 500 for a cow killed inside a kraal, when a cow now costs between N$5 000 and N$70 000?” asked Siyauya.
Pay−outs for an injured or killed goat is N$250; lost crops due to birds feeding on produce, seedlings and seeds are not covered, and livestock lost to a wild animal while grazing is also not paid out. Zatrick Mbanga Simushi, an amputee without a right lower arm and left lower leg, called on the NA to have authorities compensate victims like him with proper pay−outs to sustain their livelihoods.
Simushi, who was attacked by a hippopotamus in the Chobe River in November 2010, said he cannot feed himself as he used to before the attack. He received only N$5 000 from the conservancy and a prosthetic limb from a private donor in Rundu.
“People are reporting wild animal attacks, but nothing is being done. We are told we cannot shoot or kill these animals as we will be arrested for poaching,” he lamented.
Similar sentiments were echoed by community members living in Linyanti, Sibbinda and Kongola.
Many claim their livestock, lives and crops are in danger of elephants, crocodiles, hippos, lions, baboons, jackals, wild dogs, hyenas, reed bucks, wild pigs, porcupines, buffaloes, warthogs, duikers and kudus.
Statistics provided by the Salambala Conservancy at Ngoma indicate that N$193 500 was paid out between 2009 and 2015 to farmers who lost livestock, while N$18 440 was paid out for damaged crops.
Conservancy secretary Kachana Maswahu said 105 claims were put through for livestock killed and 279 for damaged crops during that period. Twenty−nine claims were not approved for reasons including lack of proof that the persons fell victim to wild animals.
Maswahu added that since the beginning of 2016, 17 claims were submitted for livestock killed, upon which the conservancy paid out N$29 950, while 13 claims were submitted for damaged crop fields, with N$6 400 paid to the victims.
Between 2010 and 2013, only two death claims and one claim of injury were made to the conservancy, after which N$5 000 was paid out to the amputee and the deceased persons’ families, respectively.
− Nampa
VICTIMS of human−wildlife conflict (HWC) in the Zambezi region are pushing for higher monetary compensation for their suffering.
Currently, conservancies pay out about N$1 500 per animal killed or attacked inside a kraal; about N$200 per hectare for crops eaten, trampled or damaged by wild animals; and about N$5 000 for human life lost or injured.
At a public meeting held at Ngoma on Tuesday, community members told a National Assembly (NA) Parliamentary Standing Committee that dangerous wild animals are continuing to cause significant damage to their crops, killing their livestock and taking human lives, while the pay−outs help very little.
The committee of seven MPs, led by Agnes Kafula, are investigating HWC in the region, after which a report will be compiled for parliament to make recommendations.
The deputy minister of environment and tourism (MET), Tommy Nambahu, admitted during a conservancy chairperson forum on Monday that there is no clear policy on resolving HWC, and pledged that the 2009 National Policy on HWC will be discussed in the NA this year.
The Ngoma area borders the Chobe National Park in Botswana, where wild animals cross the Chobe River into Namibia to hunt or graze.
A community member, Kawaile Siyauya, said conservancies should double compensation pay−outs as those affected are losing more than what they are paid.
Siyauya suggested N$100 000 for a life lost from wild animal attacks, and N$1 500 for damaged crops.
“The impact of the damage these wild animals cause is large. How can one be paid N$1 500 for a cow killed inside a kraal, when a cow now costs between N$5 000 and N$70 000?” asked Siyauya.
Pay−outs for an injured or killed goat is N$250; lost crops due to birds feeding on produce, seedlings and seeds are not covered, and livestock lost to a wild animal while grazing is also not paid out. Zatrick Mbanga Simushi, an amputee without a right lower arm and left lower leg, called on the NA to have authorities compensate victims like him with proper pay−outs to sustain their livelihoods.
Simushi, who was attacked by a hippopotamus in the Chobe River in November 2010, said he cannot feed himself as he used to before the attack. He received only N$5 000 from the conservancy and a prosthetic limb from a private donor in Rundu.
“People are reporting wild animal attacks, but nothing is being done. We are told we cannot shoot or kill these animals as we will be arrested for poaching,” he lamented.
Similar sentiments were echoed by community members living in Linyanti, Sibbinda and Kongola.
Many claim their livestock, lives and crops are in danger of elephants, crocodiles, hippos, lions, baboons, jackals, wild dogs, hyenas, reed bucks, wild pigs, porcupines, buffaloes, warthogs, duikers and kudus.
Statistics provided by the Salambala Conservancy at Ngoma indicate that N$193 500 was paid out between 2009 and 2015 to farmers who lost livestock, while N$18 440 was paid out for damaged crops.
Conservancy secretary Kachana Maswahu said 105 claims were put through for livestock killed and 279 for damaged crops during that period. Twenty−nine claims were not approved for reasons including lack of proof that the persons fell victim to wild animals.
Maswahu added that since the beginning of 2016, 17 claims were submitted for livestock killed, upon which the conservancy paid out N$29 950, while 13 claims were submitted for damaged crop fields, with N$6 400 paid to the victims.
Between 2010 and 2013, only two death claims and one claim of injury were made to the conservancy, after which N$5 000 was paid out to the amputee and the deceased persons’ families, respectively.
− Nampa
