MP wants bird-proof fence

DTA MP Phillemon Moongo has urged Government to put up a fence to prevent quelea birds from destroying the mahangu fields of farmers in the northern regions.

Huge flocks of red-billed quelea birds, regarded as a pest in most of sub-Saharan Africa, have descended on mahangu fields in the North, forcing Moongo, one of the victims, to fume about them in the National Assembly. “The Ministry (of Environment) exploits the communities as they (farmers) feed the thousands of birds flying in Omusati and Oshikoto areas.Since the community feeds the birds the Ministry must feed the community,” Moongo charged.This provoked Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana to stand up on a point of information.”Did you hear that the birds came on a plane from Mozambique and Zimbabwe?” she quipped.Moongo replied by saying that it was for that reason he proposed that the Ministry of Environment deal with the birds.”Can’t the Government put up a type of fence? I appeal to the Minister to reduce the birds.People will die of hunger while you are making jokes here,” he said amid loud laughter from the benches.Swapo MP Moses Amweelo asked whether Moongo had any scientifically proven solution for dealing with the birds.However, before Moongo could answer, Deputy Justice Minister Utoni Nujoma took the floor, telling the National Assembly that Namibia was not the only country plagued by the birds.He said people in China tried to eliminate the birds by beating drums but they were struck by a plague of worms.”So don’t tamper with nature,” Nujoma said.Earlier, The Namibian reported that villagers in the Ruacana and Onesi constituencies had started banging on metal objects in an effort to scare the birds away, but to no avail.Guarding the fields is usually the chore of children, but with them at school during the day, the task now falls on elderly family members.However, it appears to be too much for them.Moongo said some people had started chopping down trees in an effort to discourage the birds.He proposed that the Government come up with “some business to utilise the birds” but was not clear on what the solution was.”Maybe use the unemployed youth to kill the birds and to produce food for the communities,” he said.Minister of Environment Willem Konjore said huntable birds were compensating for the mahangu fields they destroy but he would not advise young people to kill the quelea birds.”The Ministry (of Environment) exploits the communities as they (farmers) feed the thousands of birds flying in Omusati and Oshikoto areas.Since the community feeds the birds the Ministry must feed the community,” Moongo charged.This provoked Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana to stand up on a point of information.”Did you hear that the birds came on a plane from Mozambique and Zimbabwe?” she quipped.Moongo replied by saying that it was for that reason he proposed that the Ministry of Environment deal with the birds.”Can’t the Government put up a type of fence? I appeal to the Minister to reduce the birds.People will die of hunger while you are making jokes here,” he said amid loud laughter from the benches.Swapo MP Moses Amweelo asked whether Moongo had any scientifically proven solution for dealing with the birds.However, before Moongo could answer, Deputy Justice Minister Utoni Nujoma took the floor, telling the National Assembly that Namibia was not the only country plagued by the birds.He said people in China tried to eliminate the birds by beating drums but they were struck by a plague of worms.”So don’t tamper with nature,” Nujoma said.Earlier, The Namibian reported that villagers in the Ruacana and Onesi constituencies had started banging on metal objects in an effort to scare the birds away, but to no avail.Guarding the fields is usually the chore of children, but with them at school during the day, the task now falls on elderly family members.However, it appears to be too much for them.Moongo said some people had started chopping down trees in an effort to discourage the birds.He proposed that the Government come up with “some business to utilise the birds” but was not clear on what the solution was.”Maybe use the unemployed youth to kill the birds and to produce food for the communities,” he said.Minister of Environment Willem Konjore said huntable birds were compensating for the mahangu fields they destroy but he would not advise young people to kill the quelea birds.