San to get land near Etosha

GOVERNMENT will buy two farms near the Etosha National Park to develop them into conservancies for the minority Hai//om clan of the San people, Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore has announced.

“This will create jobs and other income opportunities, leading to social upliftment, poverty reduction and will enable our Hai//om community to farm on their own land,” said Konjore. He said the upgrading of the Oshivelo airstrip and the envisaged opening of the gate near Oshivelo will also greatly benefit the Hai//om community.”The Narawandu gate and the western Etosha gate will also be opened to enable our tourists to experience the rich and diverse culture of our communities to the west and north of the park,” said Konjore.He made these remarks when he officially launched the Etosha Centenary celebrations in Windhoek on Thursday evening.The Chief of the Hai//om people, David //Khamuxab, attended the event while some Hai//om children performed traditional dances for the gathering.Etosha turned 100 years old on Thursday and the centenary celebrations will continue until March next year.Last month, Konjore said the Hai//om people and other neighbouring communities would be invited to participate in the Etosha Centenary celebrations.Etosha was established in 1907 to protect the dwindling herds of animals from hunters.Within a hundred years, Etosha’s wildlife populations have recovered to an extent that surplus animals can restock areas outside the park.He said the upgrading of the Oshivelo airstrip and the envisaged opening of the gate near Oshivelo will also greatly benefit the Hai//om community.”The Narawandu gate and the western Etosha gate will also be opened to enable our tourists to experience the rich and diverse culture of our communities to the west and north of the park,” said Konjore.He made these remarks when he officially launched the Etosha Centenary celebrations in Windhoek on Thursday evening.The Chief of the Hai//om people, David //Khamuxab, attended the event while some Hai//om children performed traditional dances for the gathering.Etosha turned 100 years old on Thursday and the centenary celebrations will continue until March next year.Last month, Konjore said the Hai//om people and other neighbouring communities would be invited to participate in the Etosha Centenary celebrations.Etosha was established in 1907 to protect the dwindling herds of animals from hunters.Within a hundred years, Etosha’s wildlife populations have recovered to an extent that surplus animals can restock areas outside the park.