By Joe-Chintha Garises
Windhoek, Sept. 3 — The United States donated N$9 million worth of vehicles to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on 02 September 2022.
The vehicles include four Land Cruisers of which two are already in the field – one in Etosha National Pan and the other in Waterberg – and two Hyundai Game viewer trucks.
The US embassy officials were led at the handover ceremony by Ambassador Andrew Young, who is visiting Namibia from 30 August-04 September 2022. During the visit, he is set to meet top Namibian government officials and see some of the US-Namibia partnership in action.
The vehicles and equipment will be used in anti-poaching.
“We see threats to the environment such as poaching and the illicit wildlife trade as a pressing threat that undermines the security and well-being of this beautiful nation and nations across the continent.
“We are proud to have forged a partnership with MEFT and are able to support the brave men and women of the anti-poaching unit. We hope that the equipment and vehicles that the United States has funded will serve them well and enable them to serve in their crucial mission,” ambassador Young said.
The ceremony highlighted the strong partnership that the US shares with the ministry and the broader government of Namibia and the mutual commitment to combatting the destabilizing effects of illicit wild trade.
