Namibia: Conservancies happily sign their rights

05 March 2010, New Era
URL: http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9811&sid=64de2931a684663f87e82586e46ab5af

Windhoek:  The signing of concessions between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and communities in several conservancies took place Tuesday.

“Under Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRM) communities are given the right to protect our biodiversity, including wildlife, and they are also given rights to conduct tourism activities to enable them to generate an income, hence the concept of conservancies,” said Minister of Environment and Tourism (MET) Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The heads of concessions that were signed included those of the Anabeb, Ehirovipuka, #Khoadi //Haoas and the Omatandeka conservancies, all of which are in the Kunene Region; the Reit Safaris and Kiochab for the Aus Community in Karas Region and the Kyaramacan Association representing residents of Bwabwata National Park, Kavango Region.

She said the signing of these concessions would mean that conservancies and communities concerned are given rights to conduct tourism activities in those areas.  “Concessions to the communities are a mechanism that will bring about economic empowerment to the rural population and will bring about a balanced sharing of natural resources,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Etendeka concession in the Kunene was awarded to the Anabed and Omatendeka conservancies and will involve upgrading the current camp and the development of a new luxury lodge.

The Hobatere Roadside concession in the Kunene was awarded to the Ehirovipuka conservancy, where a new lodge will be developed opposite the entrance to the western Etosha National Park, near Otjvasandu.   The concession includes activity rights inside Etosha.

The Hobatere North concession in the Kunene Region was awarded to the #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy and entails upgrading and expanding the current lodge and the development of a new luxury lodge.

The Ngobaca – White Sands concession in the Kavango Region was awarded to the Kyaramacan Association and involves the development of a new lodge and campsite.

The Koichab concession (Aus Information Centre and Tourism Enterprises) in Karas plans several activities that include sunset drives to the wild horses and full day drives to the Koichab dunes and wild horses, as well as guided hiking trips to the top of Dik Willem mountain.

The Reit Safaris concession, also in Karas, will involve the development of Koelkrans and Springfontein, Namib Desert trail, Damaraland trail, Bushmanland trail, African Greatest Canyon trail (Fish River Canyon), Desert Vista trail and the Combined Camel trail.

The Khaudum and Sekeretti Camps concession in the Khaudum National Park, Kavango Region provides for the construction of two new tented camps, renovation of the existing campsites and the establishment of day visitor facilities.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said this concession will be worked in partnership with Namibia Country Lodges and is expected to attract a capital investment of an estimated N$7 million and generate 24 permanent jobs.   “We are witnessing this signing with the ministry as a remarkable and historical event,” said Dawid /Goagoseb, #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy, who spoke on behalf of the conservancies.

He said this is an opportunity for communities to reap the fruits of their respective conservancies.  Nandi–Ndaitwah said it is estimated that for communities to economically benefit from those concessions, they will have to mobilise capital investment of not less than N$100 million.

She added that as a result of the signing of the concessions, conservancies and communities can now go out into the market, including banks to mobilise capital investment.

All the concessions signed, said Nandi–Ndaitwah, would be awarded for a period of 20 years. Combined, they are expected to create an estimated 256 permanent jobs while additional jobs will be generated during the development phases of tourism infrastructure.  “Once implemented, those concessions will generate more than N$7 million annually in concession fees and taxes,” she said.

In line with the Namibian Constitution, said Nandi–Ndaitwah, the environment and tourism ministry would continue to work with conservancies and communities in the utilisation of the resource base sustainability for the benefit of the current and future generations.  She added that giving concessions is another way of utilizing the national resource base.

“Getting concession rights is not the end of the process. In fact, it is the beginning of the process that requires hard work and dedication to the operationalisation of the concessions to the benefit of the intended people.”

She stressed that rights are given to communities and not individuals, saying that manipulations are not allowed and trying to become rich at the expense of others should not be allowed. “Namibia has enough resources to take all of us out of poverty and realise Vision 2030. The passwords are fairness, honesty, transparency, hard work and commitment,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

She said these concessions would also contribute towards rural development, address social inequalities and alleviate poverty, as they become an engine of economic growth in rural areas. “I am asking conservancies and community leaders that in operationalising those concessions, all is done in the best interests of the people,” she added.