- Tsogwane says the decision was based on his own interests
- Claims some tour operators fund opposition campaigns
- Says only foreigners benefitted from the hunting ban
- Also accuse Saleshando of protecting the interests of foreigners in the tourism industry
With the campaigns for the upcoming general elections gaining momentum, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chairman Slumber Tsogwane, also Vice President – recently made startling allegations that President Ian Khama’s 2014 decision to ban hunting was a selfish move meant to protect his own interest, and crippled the economic livelihoods of Ngamiland people.
Further to this allegations, Tsogwane said the beneficiaries of Khama’s hunting ban in the tourism industry are the ones who are currently funding the campaigns of opposition parties going into general elections on October 30.
In 2014 Khama’s administration issued a ban on hunting of wildlife in all controlled hunting areas in Botswana after research surveys conducted by Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders reported that the country is experiencing a decline in wild animal species. His successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi would then later in 2019 lift the ban to the excitement of local communities who were benefiting from hunting.
Launching BDP parliamentary candidates for Maun North, Maun East and Maun West over the weekend, Tsogwane criticised that the decision to ban hunting was even taken without prior proper consultation with the people living in Ngamiland.
Surprisingly, Tsogwane who was a cabinet minister in Khama’s administration at the time, came out guns blazing to criticise the administration for the decision which he said resulted in the decrease of the household income in the district.
Although Tsogwane acknowledged that the ban was issued by Khama who by then was still a BDP member, he however indicated that the decision was taken based on his own interests not that of the party and to the disadvantage of those who were economically benefiting from hunting.
Khama has since left the ruling BDP, and is aligned with the opposition where he is the patron of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), following a fall out with his successor and current President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“Now you would wonder as elephants today are roaming around causing damages to our properties, trampling us and removing us both from our homesteads here and at Masimo, who caused all these problems? Go and ask BPF?”
Tsogwane then redirected his attacks to the tourism industry operators – saying only foreigners of a certain origin and colour were doing business or benefitting from the hunting ban. Tsogwane alleged that the tour operators who benefitted from the hunting ban were the ones funding the opposition campaigns.
“We know that the money that is said to be circulating around comes from the same people who have flocked to the Okavango Delta,” he said.
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader, Dumelang Saleshando was not spared from Tsogwane’s onslaught, whom he accused of protecting the interests of foreigners in the tourism industry.
“We were shocked recently in parliament when we were calling for locals to be allocated sites at the Chobe waterfront to construct hotels there. Saleshando stood and opposed that saying it would be congesting the whites and that it would also pollute the area,” Tsogwane vented,
This was in reference to the proposed 8 sites by government, which were to be allocated on the already congested Chobe River front inside the Chobe national park. The proposal was heavily criticised by conservationists, the tourism industry, civil society, the media and some politicians as a grave environmental transgression to the sensitive eco system of the Chobe River.
Meanwhile Tsogwane has assured that whilst the country’s leadership is still under President Mokgweetsi Masisi they are going to ensure that there is citizen participation both in the tourism industry and the economy at large. He highlighted that they have since established the inclusive act to fulfill one of their 2019 promises of, ‘advancing together to an inclusive economy.’
