THE LEGAL DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PLAINTIFFS “REST” (RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES TRUST) AND NAANKUSE AND RESPONDENT MEFT (MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND TOURISM) - WILL CONSERVATION WIN?

As can be seen on the statement made on their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/RESTNAMIBIA REST, a small NGO doing its best for animals like Pangolins and highly endangered and threatened Bird species, has given up all hope for the future of conservation in Namibia and will be relocating to Nigeria where its efforts and expertise may well be appreciated.

This unfortunate state of affairs has developed due to the ineptitude, stonewalling, lack of political will, caring and capability by the MEFT so well known to NGO’s and instances that are not “in the fold” and favoured as such. Sanctuaries battle to function and/or exist under these circumstances and some just lose hope or give up. It is clear that the MEFT alone, by its own admission in public, is not capable to deliver on its legal and official mandate without outside assistance, yet such assistance is either not welcome or considered a nuisance in some instances. We at DeLHRA (Desert Lions Human Relations Aid) have been on the receiving end of this for the last eleven years and know it only too well.

While it has never been the intention to merely attack and discredit the MEFT, as can be seen by the pleas by REST to the MEFT and our own records, the poor state of Conservation in Namibia is clear for all to see. The failed CBNRM model and the denial thereof by the MEFT and Conservancies, despite several independent scientific publications proving it by reputable and respected scientists like Stasja Koot and Adam Cruise, speaks volumes. It is time for drastic reviewing, revision and regrouping in order to effect improvements and change for the better and the clock is ticking.

We believe that since all appeals, petitions and pleas to the MEFT thus far have failed, this has now led to the plaintiffs in this case to seek legal remedy for the sake of the survival of wildlife in Namibia. Current Legislation is archaic and urgently needs a total make-over through which bona fide Conservation instances can be enabled and empowered to contribute to counter the forces poised to drive Wildlife to extinction.

It is high time that the Regulating Authorities take stock and do proper introspection of their shortcomings to fulfil their mandate and the outcomes brought about by it and get off their high horse to embrace assistance offered by institutions such as the plaintiffs in this case. Egos, cronyism and politics should take a back seat in the interest of the preservation of Namibia’s precious natural gems as an integral part of the world’s natural treasures.

We therefor appeal once again to the MEFT to effect change in this regard and reach out, instead of alienating and isolating such stakeholders. Remember your mandate and your Constitutional duty and become the butterfly instead of remaining in your cocoon. Lose the autonomic, arrogant disposition you inherited from the previous regime imposed on your people for all these years and let us co-operate with open minds. If not, the fall out inevitably brought about by increasing awareness of the sorry state of current affairs regarding Conservation will be detrimental.

God knows, things have to change....!

Izak Smit

DeLHRA (Desert Lions Human Relations Aid)