By Lylie Happiness
RUNDU, Aug. 18 – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has wrapped up a series of public hearings in the Kavango region, focusing on the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict. The aim of these hearings is to pinpoint the challenges related to such conflicts and propose potential solutions.
During the recent engagement, the committee interacted with community members from the Shambyu traditional authority in the Rundu rural constituency. Hompa Sofia Mundjembwe, leader of the Shambyu traditional authority, expressed her concerns about the escalating incidents involving problem-causing animals in the area. She emphasized that the compensation provided was inadequate to alleviate the impact on affected individuals. Moreover, she highlighted the shortage of officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism responsible for the expansive Kavango east and west regions, which might contribute to delayed responses in emergency situations.
The traditional authority also raised grievances regarding the limited benefits derived from local conservancies. Hompa Mundjembwe, alongside senior traditional councillors, lamented the recurrent loss of human lives, livestock, and crops due to animals like crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and hippos. The authority voiced discontent over the lack of substantial compensation for damages, despite promptly reporting such incidents to the relevant authorities.
Community members, who continue to suffer losses due to problem-causing animals, including elephants, crocodiles, and hippos, have suggested controlled harvesting as a means to manage these populations. Sharing his personal experience, a victim of human-wildlife conflict recounted how a hippo attack cost him his leg while fishing. Although he received a one-time compensation of N$50,000, he stressed that his ongoing survival remains a challenge, with personal medical expenses mounting.
Local residents expressed frustration over prolonged discussions without effective solutions. They urged the parliamentary body to address the issue through legal reforms, criticizing colonial-era laws that seem detached from the community’s reality. The sentiment was shared that wildlife often receives more attention than human well-being.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism faced accusations of disorganization and delayed response to reported human-wildlife conflict cases. Community members claimed that insufficient boats or transportation hinder timely intervention, allowing problem-causing animals to escape.
The community also voiced dissatisfaction with the current compensation rates for crop loss, loss of life, and livestock, deeming them inadequate and requiring revision.
These public hearings, which began on August 7th in the Zambezi region, served as a platform for affected communities to share their experiences and advocate for change in addressing human-wildlife conflict challenges.
