Keamogetse Letsholo, The Botswana Daily News
Government will consult all stakeholders before taking a decision on the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee on the hunting ban, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has told Kasane residents.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in the village on March 7, Dr Masisi said all stakeholders would converge in Maun to discuss the report prior to government making decision.
He said he would meet the presidents of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation (KAZA) region ahead of the Maun meeting as the decision would affect their countries.
The report, he explained, would also be made available for public consumption but the final decision on the report rested with government.
Dr Masisi said it was disappointing that before government had taken any decision on the report, some individuals had appointed themselves advocates for wild animals at the expense of human rights.
He expressed surprise at the international community uproar that the lifting of the hunting ban would result in massive killing of elephants and encourage poaching.
Government, he said, did not have any plans to have elephants’ blood flowing everywhere as even prior to the imposition of the ban, hunting was controlled.
On other issues, President Masisi said corruption should not be tolerated at all costs as it promoted unfair distribution of resources and services.
He said corruption should be avoided in all areas including tourism.
Dr Masisi said he wished to see Batswana taking part in the tourism industry and an increase in the number of wealthy citizens who would enrich the country through the payment of taxes.
He advised Batswana to take advantage of developments such as the Kazungula Bridge and the anticipated Mosetse/Kazungula railway line to diversify the economy and create jobs.
Dr Masisi said it was upon everybody to work towards changing the economy from mineral based to a diversified one.
He informed his audience that Parliament would be dissolved in a few months’ time in preparation for the general elections.
The President urged Batswana to vote for people who would be willing to accept defeat adding that sore losers were a risk to the country’s peace and tranquility.
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