Conservationist Kambinda takes Lifetime Award

INSPIRATIONAL conservationist, Nikodemus Kambinda, is the winner of the Ministry of Environment’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious award of the Ministry.

Kambinda,who passionately devoted 33 years of his life to conservation, was presented with the award at the Ministry’s fourth annual field staff awards ceremony held in the capital last Thursday evening.Stationed at Khaudum National Park in Kavango region, as a Scout, Kambinda has influenced a lot of young Ministry staff with his courage, ability to deliver, punctuality, dedication and hard work, to combat poachers, stated Sylvester Sikongo, one of the two people who nominated him.In this park, Kambinda created roads, waterholes and built camps. Upon his arrival, years ago, the park only had 200 elephants but it is now a biodiversity treasure that is home to about 3 500 elephants.Kambinda, who is now 59 years of age, is set for retirement at the end of this year. This award is given to a long serving member of the Ministry, either currently in service or retired, in recognition of his or her dedication to the work of the Ministry and to conservation in general.The winner in the Springbok award category is the young lady, Monika Shikongo, the warden for the Bwabwata National Park East for having demonstrated great potential to succeed in the field of conservation, park management and special outreach services. Vitalis Mushongo, of the Ministry’s Regional Services in Windhoek, was the runner-up.Wilbard Mukena, the Ministry’s Principal Ranger at Outjo, took the Welwitschia Award, which recognises outstanding leadership qualities, great work ethics and an innovative approach to park management.Bytell said Mukena has devoted nearly a quarter of a century to conservation in Namibia and his supervisor described him as ‘a willing official who learns quickly.’ The Incident Book Award went to Bwabwata National Park East, and is an award given to the park with the highest score of a wide variety of dates relevant to daily park management, such as wildlife mortalities, species sightings, tourist statistics, fire, rainfall and patrolling efforts.Bwabwata National Park East came out with the highest score of 19, while both Mudumu National park and Sperrgebiet National Park came second with 18. In her speech, read on her behalf by the Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Tourism Board, Digu //Naobeb, Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Ministry’s field staff is the back-bone of Namibia’s international conservation success.’They do so, not in international conference rooms, but in open spaces, exposed to all weather conditions, wildlife and would-be poachers,’ said Nandi-Ndaitwah. Namibia now boasts with 20 State proclaimed national parks, reserves and recreational areas, covering nearly 17 per cent of the country’s total land surface.UNDP Resident Representative, Kari Egg – in her speech read by her deputy Martha Mwandingi, said hard work, dedication, commitment and inspiration deserve a reward. She said considering that Namibia’s national protected areas are one of the best managed in the SADC region, the country deserves great appreciation for those responsible for the effective management of the parks.