Affirmative action scheme goes wild

GOVERNMENT plans to introduce a scheme involving the breeding of wild animals for eligible affirmative action farmers and on resettlement farms.

The aim is to provide an income-generating measure for historically disadvantaged Namibians. It will make loans available for this purpose.The scheme, which was announced by Cabinet last week, will be administered by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.There will be three categories.* Historically disadvantaged people who have acquired land under the resettlement programme, Affirmative Action Loan Scheme or through leaseholds on communal land suitable for the programme will qualify under the high priority category.* Disadvantaged people who acquired suitable land by other means will qualify under the second priority category.* The third priority category will include corporate or joint owners of land where the proven ownership of people who fall in the historically disadvantaged category amount to at least two-thirds of the equity.Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be considered as lowest priority.The criteria requires that a land unit must be able to sustain a viable population of the selected species; must not be smaller than 1 000 hectares and must be properly fenced.Other considerations include how compatible the wildlife production will be in relation to other uses of the land, stocking rates for livestock and other development objectives, the current status of wildlife on the land and the potential of the land unit to enhance rare species management.Applications for participation in the programme will be followed by a technical evaluation of the land unit and participants must be willing to enter into a contract with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, which supplies the game species.In 2004, Cabinet authorised the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to map out the wildlife loan scheme.It will make loans available for this purpose.The scheme, which was announced by Cabinet last week, will be administered by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.There will be three categories.* Historically disadvantaged people who have acquired land under the resettlement programme, Affirmative Action Loan Scheme or through leaseholds on communal land suitable for the programme will qualify under the high priority category.* Disadvantaged people who acquired suitable land by other means will qualify under the second priority category.* The third priority category will include corporate or joint owners of land where the proven ownership of people who fall in the historically disadvantaged category amount to at least two-thirds of the equity.Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be considered as lowest priority.The criteria requires that a land unit must be able to sustain a viable population of the selected species; must not be smaller than 1 000 hectares and must be properly fenced. Other considerations include how compatible the wildlife production will be in relation to other uses of the land, stocking rates for livestock and other development objectives, the current status of wildlife on the land and the potential of the land unit to enhance rare species management.Applications for participation in the programme will be followed by a technical evaluation of the land unit and participants must be willing to enter into a contract with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, which supplies the game species.In 2004, Cabinet authorised the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to map out the wildlife loan scheme.