- raises funds for victims of human-wildlife conflict
The second edition of the annual “KAZA Co-existence Charity Bushwalk” organised by The Simmon Phuthego Organization with the mission to raise funds and help the victims of human-wildlife conflict and their families is set for Maun on August 30, 2025.
The walk will be held at Matlapana under the theme, “Putting the Human at the centre of Human-Wildlife Conflict; Promoting Human-Wildlife Adaptation and co-existence.”
Phuthego, founder of the foundation has said in most cases more emphasis is placed on the conservation of natural resources mainly the wildlife and the environment yet people are partially left behind especially those living in wildlife areas.
“So, through the walk we are trying to bring awareness that people should also be given the same attention as they are the ones taking care of these natural resources. The walk is to raise awareness on human-wildlife conflict and promote co-existence,” he said in an interview.
Phuthego aims for the charity walk to revolve about KAZA’s five countries (Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia) with the proceeds ploughed into financing bespoke micro-enterprises and activities that help victims adapt and mitigate against human-wildlife conflict respectively.
“We want to engage these KAZA Member States because we are facing the same human-wildlife conflicts problems. So, it is important that we share ideas which can also help in policy formulation by governments of these countries for the betterment of our people and prompting co-existence.”
As part of its mandate, the organisation has taken up the challenge to assist one of the family victims of human-wildlife conflict by refurbishing their existing house to make it more habitable and disability friendly.
The victims are a mother -daughter who lost their arm and forearm respectively in a near fatal crocodile attack in the Thamalakane river on the 28 November 2020.
On the ill-fated date, the village of Maun learned of the tragic incident that befell the two. While harvesting water lily tubers (tswii) in the Thamalakane River, a crocodile attacked the daughter, biting her left forearm off. Impelled by what can only be understood as courage borne of motherhood, the mother came to the defence of her child in the process losing her left arm.
Gathering Tswii was the means of livelihood for the two, and now with no predictable source of income, the family currently struggles to adapt to life and mostly depend on alms and dole for survival.
After the charity bushwalk, on August 30, Phuthego plans to also hand over the project and he has since appealed for assistance through funds or donations in-kind to make sure that the project is completed on time.
The project entails installation of a washing machine, addition of a shower to make things easier for the victims to care for their personal hygiene. Extension of the living room, addition of a kitchen, bathroom and laundry room as well as refurbishment and stocking up of their tuckshop to enable them to sustain themselves.
The foundation has invited BaTawana Paramount Chief, Tawana Moremi as the chief walker of the charity bushwalk and Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi to officiate at the handover of the housing project.
According to Phuthego, the plan is to also document other victims and see how they can be helped as the foundation continues with its efforts in helping them adapt to a new lifestyle after the encounter. “We need to promote co-existence as the conflict is not going anywhere since we live together with the animals fighting for the same resources.”
Meanwhile, Phuthego is advocating for increased compensation for incidents of human-wildlife conflicts including damages to properties, crops and loss of lives. He is also calling for the establishment of a human-wildlife conflict fund that will help improve the lives of people ling in wildlife areas.
