Conservation hit by limited funds

OVER-EXPENDITURE of N$12,3 million at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) this past financial year was caused by necessity rather than a lack of financial control, the Ministry says.

Bush fires in the Etosha National Park and wild animals destroying crops in rural communities required extra spending on vehicles, fuel and accommodation, Ministry officials told a public hearing in Windhoek on Friday. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts heard that the Ministry had faced severe budgetary constraints for years, as tourism and nature conservation had until recently not been regarded as a priority by the Finance Ministry.For years, the budgetary allocations had not covered operational costs, despite the fact that the Ministry generated approximately N$30 million a year from park entrance fees.Resorts in Government parks are run by the parastatal Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), which should have paid over N$48 million to the Ministry for park fees generated on behalf of the MET, but this had not been done.”This will probably be written off,” Permanent Secretary Dr Malan Lindeque said.The NWR received a N$120 million bailout in terms of a Cabinet decision last year.The Committee is currently scrutinising the audit reports of ministries and State agencies for the financial year that ended in March 2005.”In order to carry out a weekly control along the fence of Etosha, a trip of 2 000 kilometres is required,” Lindeque said.”That comes to 104 000 km a year alone and with rising fuel costs, that is a huge chunk of the transport budget.”About 250 vehicles had to be maintained, running up huge bills at the Government Garage, he told the Committee.On top of that, the Government Garage had incorrectly charged the MET for repairs and N$3 million could be recovered during the past financial year.The Ministry would now build up its own vehicle fleet over the next two years, the Permanent Secretary said.The Ministry is also responsible for the grading and maintenance of roads in national parks.”Our graders are on average 20 years old and when they break down, repairs per grader come to N$50 000,” Lindeque told the committee.With 54 regional offices, very few computers at hand there and hardly any e-mail connectivity in the regions, the Ministry faced obstacles in bringing expenditure down and receiving prompt updates on expenditure and happenings in the 23 parks strewn across Namibia which fall under the responsibility of MET, Lindeque explained.For the current financial year, the Ministry received a budget of N$141 million, up from about N$120 million the previous year.Recently, the Ministry was put on the list of the UN Global Environmental Fund (GEF) to receive financial and technical support under the Strengthening of Protected Areas Network (SPAN).Four key areas receive support: the soon-to-be established Etosha-Skeleton Coast link, the envisaged Sperrgebiet National Park, the Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili Parks and the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Park.The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts heard that the Ministry had faced severe budgetary constraints for years, as tourism and nature conservation had until recently not been regarded as a priority by the Finance Ministry.For years, the budgetary allocations had not covered operational costs, despite the fact that the Ministry generated approximately N$30 million a year from park entrance fees.Resorts in Government parks are run by the parastatal Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), which should have paid over N$48 million to the Ministry for park fees generated on behalf of the MET, but this had not been done.”This will probably be written off,” Permanent Secretary Dr Malan Lindeque said.The NWR received a N$120 million bailout in terms of a Cabinet decision last year.The Committee is currently scrutinising the audit reports of ministries and State agencies for the financial year that ended in March 2005.”In order to carry out a weekly control along the fence of Etosha, a trip of 2 000 kilometres is required,” Lindeque said.”That comes to 104 000 km a year alone and with rising fuel costs, that is a huge chunk of the transport budget.”About 250 vehicles had to be maintained, running up huge bills at the Government Garage, he told the Committee.On top of that, the Government Garage had incorrectly charged the MET for repairs and N$3 million could be recovered during the past financial year.The Ministry would now build up its own vehicle fleet over the next two years, the Permanent Secretary said.The Ministry is also responsible for the grading and maintenance of roads in national parks.”Our graders are on average 20 years old and when they break down, repairs per grader come to N$50 000,” Lindeque told the committee.With 54 regional offices, very few computers at hand there and hardly any e-mail connectivity in the regions, the Ministry faced obstacles in bringing expenditure down and receiving prompt updates on expenditure and happenings in the 23 parks strewn across Namibia which fall under the responsibility of MET, Lindeque explained.For the current financial year, the Ministry received a budget of N$141 million, up from about N$120 million the previous year.Recently, the Ministry was put on the list of the UN Global Environmental Fund (GEF) to receive financial and technical support under the Strengthening of Protected Areas Network (SPAN).Four key areas receive support: the soon-to-be established Etosha-Skeleton Coast link, the envisaged Sperrgebiet National Park, the Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili Parks and the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Park.