Germany donates N$17 million to Zambezi

Communities in the Zambezi region have received support worth about N$17 million from the German government.

This includes infrastructure, equipment, and grants sponsored by KfW Development Bank to mitigate the effects of human-wildlife conflict (HWC).

The official handover took place at Katima Mulilo on Wednesday, and was conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism in collaboration with the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia, and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Area.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who officiated the handover, said the grants and equipment will empower the communities to address human-wildlife conflict and build resilience.

He said the communities will be equipped with predator-proof kraals, water infrastructure, wildlife monitoring and patrol equipment for game guards, HWC warning systems and safety gear, response vehicles, and beekeeping equipment.

“I am equally excited that we are handing over performance payments to conservancies through the Wildlife Credits Namibia Scheme. These communities are truly the pillars of global conservation work, and their successful efforts must be duly recognised and incentivised,” he said.

German Development Cooperation representative Nuria Stormer said addressing human-wildlife conflict requires a balance between conservation priorities and the needs of the affected communities.

“There is no single solution to the prevention of human-wildlife conflict, and measures need to be developed that are combined and adaptive, according to the different species and varying local context,” she said.