After hunting buzz, reality sinks in
Friday, September 27, 2019
The announcement by government that hunting would be reintroduced, prioritising Batswana for this season, drew much excitement.
Five years after the hunting moratorium caught many unawares, the doors for direct sustainable use were being opened. Elephants in particular, whose numbers have ballooned under the moratorium, increasing human/wildlife conflict, are top of the value chain in terms of commercial use and many welcomed the declaration of a hunting season.
While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...