The Okavango for Human Wildlife Conflict Foundation (HWCF) will tomorrow (07May) host a fund raising dinner in Maun, and the proceeds will be directed towards supporting victims of human-wildlife conflict.
The event which is themed “Towards a joint support on Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation” will be hosted at Mau Cresta Hotel from 1800hours till late and tickets are selling at P450 per delegate and P4000.00 per table of ten.
HWCF Chairperson Gasemotho Satau revealed that attendees will be able to interact with various victims of human-wildlife conflict from across the District.
“Funds accrued from the dinner will be directed towards assisting victims who are in need. During the dinner the victims will also share their experiences and how they are recovering,” Satau told this publication.
Satau noted that the foundation currently offers psychological support as their analysis of the victims has revealed that they are mostly provided with financial support, leaving behind mental support.
Satau revealed that they are currently working on assisting human wildlife conflict victims to secure funding from different stakeholders especially for those living with disability due wildlife attacks.
According to him, their assessment has showed that most of the victims need artificial body parts such as hands and legs to live a normal life and fend for themselves.
“We are facing a challenge of incomplete medical reports for those victims which is very important when seeking funding, however we are working with relevant stakeholders to completing the forms,” Satau note.
Satau has also encouraged different stakeholders to not only assist these victims with food hampers but rather empower them with something tangible that these beneficiaries can use to sustain themselves and be able to buy themselves food.
Satau has called for the revised constitution to have a clause which specifically focuses on supporting people who got disabled by wildlife.
He further noted that the land tenure system should be reviewed, and be amended to afford communities security of land tenure in order to attract large scale investors.
“If communities are given enough rights to communal land they will be able to attract investor. 15 year leases are not enough to attract large investors,” said Satau.
Okavango Communities Human Wildlife conflict foundation is a non-governmental organisation which creates awareness on human wildlife conflict among community members in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders.
Meanwhile Satau has indicated that their newly established foundation which began operations at the peak of COVID-19 in May 2021 is faced with a number of challenges among them shortage of funds and resources, such as transport to visit HWF victims and an office facility.
