Greater Waterberg Landscape’s communal conservancies address conservancies' institutional governance
The communal conservancies’ portion of the Greater Waterberg Landscape (GWL) makes up the biggest area of the total landscape (85%). This is made up of the African Wild Dog, Okamatapati, Otjituuo and Ozonahi, all which were established in 2005. To date, these conservancies trail behind in the realisation of the aspirations and objectives, a trend attributed to among others, the weakness of the institutional structures. It resulted in the decision by the Landscape Management Committee (LMC) that these conservancies require dedicated interventions in this regard for the landscape to succeed. Among aspects identified for intervention in these conservancies is the need to formally define, constitute, and implement the governance structures of the four conservancies. Activities such as review of the constitutions, development and management plans, regularly holding Annual General Meetings and election of the Management Committee members were among others singled out as the starting blocks of reviving these conservancies.
During the last quarter of 2013, the African Wild Dog, Otjituuo and Okamatapati Conservancies held their Annual General Meetings on 05 December, 21 November and 02 November 2013 respectively. At these meetings, the African Wild Dog and Otjituuo Conservancies successfully reviewed and adopted their amended constitutions and also elected their conservancies’ new management committees to reign for the next three years, with the responsibility of spearheading the development and management of their conservancies.
The new Otjituuo Conservancy Management Committee comprised of the following members, drawn from the general conservancy community, 4 village blocks and 4 Traditional Authorities: Katjiveri K.; Uzera S.B.; Rukoro U.; Kazengurura U.; Upingasana U.; Katjipi V.; Kakunandero U.; Mutjavikua L.; Tjombonde S.; Anton T., with a female gender representation of 50%. Four representatives are yet to be nominated from their respective blocks. The African Wild Dog Conservancy Management Committee’s 13 members comprises of Kandinda A.; Tjiami K.; Kaangundue F.; Katjeringo B.; Kavetuna M.; Novengi C.U..; Tjaverua B..; Mberirua T.; Tjombe N; Muvangua S.; Kamujame K.; Mureti M.; and Kaura K. also drawn from the general conservancy community, 4 village blocks and 3 Traditional Authorities, with female representation of 40%.
To ensure that the newly elected committee members grow the competence and confidence in carrying out their respective responsibilities, 3-days capacity development training was offered to these committees during 7-9 March 2014, held at Okatjikona Environmental Education Center in Waterberg. Subjects covered during the training range from Legislations and Policies governing the communal conservancies in Namibia; specific roles and responsibilities of the different conservancy committee portfolios; dispute resolutions; decision making, and records keeping among others.
Participants to the training demonstrated the aspiration of taking their conservancies ahead, further presenting their additional capacity development needs and requesting the supporting institutions to offer continued support.
