IS KILLING ELEPHANTS NOT A BLESSING IN DISGUISE?

Dear Editor

For the past few weeks including in your last issue of The Voice there have been stories of people losing their lives in the North West district to animals especially members of the big five.

If I am not mistaken you recently ran a story of a man who was killed by a lion which had earlier on killed his goats. There was again another man who was severely attacked by yet another lion.

Then in the last issue a woman was killed by an elephant on her way from fetching water.

There is no doubt that the loss of a human life can never be compared to any living thing in this planet. I am saying this because one of the local newspapers last week ran what appeared to be a supplement against elephant poaching.

While I was reading the stories I thought of all the people who have been killed by elephants and  the pain that their surviving families have endured because of their death. The thought that maybe killing of these elephants was a blessing in disguise crossed my mind. I am not anti elephants or any animal nor am I saying what the poachers are doing is right but for a country with the largest elephant population in the continent something must be done to control the large number of these animals which are now competing for space with human beings.

It is obvious that human beings will never win this war with elephants with their bare hands hence other means have to be applied.

As I have already said I am not advocating for the bad things done by poachers but I think the government has to come up with a better solution of controlling the elephant population. No harm in putting the animals on birth control measures as is the case in Kwa-Zulu, South Africa because as long as we have this high population poachers would always be attracted.

This is just a thought and I hope I won’t read a story of another human being killed by any wild animal especially in respective villages.

T. Phiri via email

MIST DISAPPOINTED WITH REIKELETSENG’S STATEMENTS.

We refer to an article that appeared in your edition of 27 July 2012, entitled “BNSC DISAPPOINTED WITH GOVERNMENT,” in which the Chairman of the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC), Mr Solly Reikeletseng is reported to have expressed disappointment against the manner in which the issue of National Stadium is being handled by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology representing Government.

In the same article, Mr Reikeletseng is further reported to have said that no information has been availed to him on why even the Francistown stadium and the Lobatse stadium are also still not complete.

We are surprised by the statement claimed to have been made by Mr Reikeletseng since officers of the BNSC regularly attend project meetings called by the relevant project managers to discuss progress or lack thereof on the said projects. In addition, the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology updates Cabinet which includes the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture fortnightly on the same.

The reasons for the non-completion of the three stadia have been and will continue to be made known to BNSC and their parent Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

BNSC and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture have been informed about our Ministry public position that we do not take over any project until completed with good quality and in compliance with contract specifications. We believe they know that it is for these reasons that we have still not taken over any of the three projects mentioned. By doing that, we are fulfilling our duty of safeguarding public funds as the Ministry responsible for infrastructure development in this country.

We, alongside the BNSC and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, are jointly exerting pressure on the consultants and contractors to complete these projects. We however, welcome Mr Reikeletseng to engage us directly if he feels his Ministry or BNSC officers who attend project meetings do not inform him sufficiently.

Thank you.

Christopher Nyanga

Principal Public Relations Officer