Member of Parliament for Okavango East, Gabatsholwe Disho has urged residents of Ngarange to join those of Sekondomboro and Mogotho to form a new trust or revive the old and defunct Itekeng Community Trust as it can serve as a financial safety net for the community, enabling quick responses to health emergencies, natural disasters and economic crises.
Disho who was addressing a Kgotla meeting recently, said villages on the other side of the Okavango River have rich natural resources and if the residents could revive Itekeng Community Trust, it would assist them to develop their villages, create jobs and improve their livelihoods.
“In order to make positive strides it is important to dissolve the existing board, elect new members and amend the constitution to continue operating under the trust,” the Member of Parliament added.
He further stated that in the next five years, he would like to see the trust being operational and residents from the three villages working hard together, having all the needed resources that will be assisting them. Disho urged it is only when they form a completely new trust or revive the old one that he can then find ways to source funds for them.
For her part, the Shakawe District Officer Gaehetswe Maphakwane advised for the existing board to be dissolved because they will not form part of the new constitution. She further stressed that the correct rules and regulations should be followed when forming a new trust by the community in order to build and benefit from it.
Meanwhile minister of environment and tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi revealed recently that his ministry does not have a specific budget to fund newly established community trusts. He said this when responding to Disho who had asked when they would consider funding Itekeng Community Trust which is duly registered, but currently struggling.
The minister however advised that there are a number of funding opportunities that could assist trusts, like National Environmental Fund (NEF), Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) as well as the Global Environmental Facility-Small Grants Programme. Mmolotsi however assured that the tourism ministry would work with Okavango District to facilitate Itekeng Community Trust to mobilise financial resources for their operations from the available funding opportunities.
