AFRICAN INDABA

2   Official Response Of The Botswana Government On The Mmegi Article “Wildlife Hunting To Cease In Botswana”.

Mable Bolele, Coordinator, Communications, Research and Development

Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
 

In a letter to the media, reference EWT 1/6/4 III and dated 20^th July 2011, the Botswana Government refers to an article in Mmegi (issue of Friday 15^th July, 2011):

It was said that the Botswana government is in advanced legal process to ban the hunting of wildlife in favor of photographic safari.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism would like to clarify that there is no decision made to ban wildlife hunting. Instead, what is being done is to encourage photographic tourism and gradually limit but not ban wildlife hunting. It must be known that species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting while those with increasing numbers like elephants, will continue to be hunted within CITES framework.

On the 13^th and 14^th July 2011, the Ministry and other stakeholders organized two days training workshop for local Media Practitioners on Poverty and Environmental Reporting. It was at this workshop that the Ministry spokesperson highlighted the benefits of photographic tourism to Community Trusts in the country as compared to just issuing hunting quotes during a discussion on Community Based Resource National Management (CBNRM). But there was no reference to hunting ban. Unfortunately, he was quoted out of context.

In conclusion, the Ministry states that the Botswana Government has no plan to ban hunting in this country and we would like to assure all hunting safari companies and affected communities that live near wildlife management areas who continues to benefit from hunting. The Mmegi story does not reflect current government thinking on the subject of wildlife hunting.