Rundu rural councillor accuses Govt of valuing wildlife over people

Rundu Rural councillor in Kavango East Paulus Mbangu has accused the government of placing a higher value on wildlife than human lives, particularly those who experience by crocodile attacks.

He made these remarks during an interview with The Namibian yesterday regarding human-wildlife conflict in the region.

“There is a serious contradiction on the part of the ministry. In the hunting concession, an elephant costs over N$250 000, while a person killed by the elephant is paid N$100 000,” Mbangu said.

“If there are plans to have a human-wildlife conflict conference, we’re looking forward to it. At the moment, all the evidence points to the fact that the ministry is not doing enough,” he said about plans to hold the conference next month.

Mbangu dismissed claims that people living along rivers are encroaching on the natural habitat of wild animals like crocodiles.
He said perennial rivers like the Okavango are a source of livelihood and support subsistence activities.

“That’s our life. I also used to hear officials from the ministry of the environment say that apparently they would not compensate people who went to the river for a picnic,” Mbangu said.

In the Kavango East region two weeks ago, a pregnant mother fought a crocodile at Divava village to rescue her four-year-old son.

In the Kavango West region in January, a teenage boy wrestled a crocodile that had attacked his younger sister and saved her life. The attack happened after the two siblings went to fetch water on the Okavango River.

According to Mbangu, such incidents have become common.

“When people in Kavango go to the river, it is not for a picnic. That’s our life; you can’t separate the river from us,” Mbangu said.
People go to the river to fetch water, cut reeds and catch fish.

Mbangu said encounters with crocodiles are unavoidable and, therefore, require mitigation strategies.

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