Member of Parliament for Maun North, Dumelang Saleshando has condemned the continued conflicts within some community trusts,which have led to some warring factions making courts the battle ground seeking to take control of the organisations.
In some notable, instances while intended to benefit the communities through the Community Based Natural Resource Management policy, community trusts end up becoming vehicles of discontent that divide communities. This is often caused by controversies facing trusts such as mismanagement, lack of accountability and corruption.
In that regard, Saleshando has pleaded with Mababe Zokotsama Community Development Trust to avoid falling into such conflicts as they can hinder their full potential for development and sustainable natural resource management.
Saleshando made this plea during the official opening of the trust’s office at Sedie Ward in Maun last week. He expressed that arising conflicts within some community trusts is a source of great concern, commending Mababe Zokotsama Community Trust for staying above conflicts but endeavour to improve the livelihoods of beneficiary communities.
The construction of the trust’s office, Saleshando noted, is an indicative of its potential to utilise the proceeds generated through hunting for development projects. He encouraged the trust to continue using available natural resources for community development projects.
Mababe Zokotsama Community Development Trust Manager Vusi Khumalo has said that after experiencing some financial challenges during Covid-19 which severely affected the tourism industry, they realised the need to invest in multiple sources of income hence they came up with the office project.
He revealed that they have proposed to Mababe community to build a guest house in some of the available space within their premises which will in turn create employment for community members. Khumalo has emphasised the importance of the CBNRM program for Mababe community indicating that through the income they generate through hunting they are able to come up with projects beneficial to the livelihoods of community members.
‘‘Through the funds we generate from hunting we offer monthly allowances of P700 for the elderly, the destitute and people living with disabilities. We also provide household dividends twice a year for the community, last year December over 140 residents received P3 000 each and in April this year we will be offering them P3 000 each again,’’ he said.
For his part, North West District Commissioner Thabang Waloka has encouraged the trust to continue developing Mababe village especially by building infrastructure in order to attract tourists and investors to the area.
