- reclaims Maun Educational Park and Moremi Game Reserve
- interim board gets six months extension pending AGM
Following the unveiling of Fauna Conservation Trust of Ngamiland in Maun for the very first time this week, residents have since unanimously agreed to extend the interim board’s term to allow them time for its launch in other parts of Ngamiland pending the Annual General Meeting.
Batawana Paramount Chief, Kgosi Tawana Moremi II who serves as the Trust’s Chairman and Principal Trustee, on Monday unveiled and outlined its mandate.
Moremi also took the opportunity to introduce the interim board, that was appointed in 2018 tasked with reclaiming Moremi Game Reserve and the Maun Educational Park back to Batawana.
After Tawana Land Board agreed to return the two community assets to the community at the directive of former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the tribe in October 2022 moved to register the trust that has been tasked to reclaim the two community assets.
The tribe collectively opted for the new trust to be the reincarnation of the old Fauna Conservation Society of Ngamiland that was decommissioned after Batawana handed over the administration and management of Maun Educational Park to government in 1963.
During Monday’s kgotla meeting, Moremi confirmed that government has already returned the Maun Educational Park to the Trust while handing over of Moremi Game Reserve awaits to be finalised.
“There were delays with handing over of Moremi Game Reserve due change of government to the new administration as well as the appointment of new Tawana Land Board members. We waited for them to settle in office and we will now start the process of the reserve being handed over to the Trust,” he stated.
Meanwhile the interim board which is made up of 10 members, with the 11th being Kgosi Tawana Moremi II as the principal trustee is having their three-year term coming to an end in October this year.
Hence Tiego Mpho-director of the trust has requested for an extension in order for them to unveil it to other parts of the region before calling for an Annual General Meeting where they will hand over to the newly elected members.
Mpho apologised for the delay in unveiling the trust to the people with the first one having only been conducted this past Monday. He noted that the same needs to also be done in other constituencies of Ngami, Okavango East and Okavango West.
“After that we will return to sensitise you about the trust’s constitution. I therefore urge you to apply for membership as it will only be members eligible to elect the new board. The membership fee is P10 per month. There will be other village trusts and private companies that will affiliate under the trust.”
“We will make the constitution available to you all which stipulates that one can only serve two terms of three years each” explained Mpho and the residents subsequently agreed to extend the term by six months.
