N$6 000 reward out for dune vandals

A REWARD of N$6 000 was posted last week for informa- tion leading to the arrest of the vandals responsible for destroy- ing several information boards and conservation barriers in the dune-belt area between Swako- pmund and Walvis Bay.

Rod Braby, Senior Techni- cal Advisor of the Namibian Conservation and Management project (Nacoma), said nine information boards and four barriers at entrance points to the cabled-off conservation area were destroyed. He said the cost to repair or replace the infrastructure is estimated at N$16 000.Braby said the vandals struck last weekend, stealing poles and barriers on top of destroying the signposts.”It is unclear whether these vandals required the poles for their own use or whether they were there to destroy the signs maliciously.”The signboards are impor- tant to warn people to stay out of the conservation area or to inform and educate the public about the flora and fauna in the dune area,” he said.He pointed out that the incident was considered a criminal offence, as it consti- tuted malicious damage to State property.Members of the Contingency Management Committee, deal- ing with conservation issues in the dune belt, as well as the Namibia Nature Foundation, last week raised N$6 000 as a reward.People with information on the culprits are urged to contact the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Walvis Bay, tel (064) 20 5971 and speak to Mr Mukosho or Mr Dausab.He said the cost to repair or replace the infrastructure is estimated at N$16 000.Braby said the vandals struck last weekend, stealing poles and barriers on top of destroying the signposts.”It is unclear whether these vandals required the poles for their own use or whether they were there to destroy the signs maliciously.”The signboards are impor- tant to warn people to stay out of the conservation area or to inform and educate the public about the flora and fauna in the dune area,” he said.He pointed out that the incident was considered a criminal offence, as it consti- tuted malicious damage to State property.Members of the Contingency Management Committee, deal- ing with conservation issues in the dune belt, as well as the Namibia Nature Foundation, last week raised N$6 000 as a reward.People with information on the culprits are urged to contact the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Walvis Bay, tel (064) 20 5971 and speak to Mr Mukosho or Mr Dausab.