04 Aug 2019

In an effort to balance the popular Western narrative surrounding Botswana’s lifting of the hunting ban, film maker, Jack Ramsden recently debuted a documentary that showcases the effects of wildlife on communities in Botswana from a communities’ perspective.

This fresh perspective often downplayed on Western media in favour of promoting ‘massacring of elephants’ gives the communities affected by wildlife the opportunity to drive their own narrative and tell their own stories based on their lived experiences.

The film, which focuses primarily in Northern Botswana in areas such as Okavango, Chobe and Boteti features interviews from President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is a fierce proponent of the lifting of the hunting ban is also featured in the film. “To our critics we say we have the right to determine our people’s path of development and we are going to do it,” he is quoted in the documentary.

The film also features leading academics in tourism development and rural livelihoods such as Professor Joseph Mbaiwa, who advocates for scientific-based policy decisions.

Discussions following the film’s debut advocated for a robust global communications strategy as well as the need to empower communities as shareholders of natural resources as opposed to stakeholders.

In a panel discussion following the viewing of the film, Professor Mbaiwa called for integrated policies that balance the need for ecological conservation while recognising the dignity of human beings.

“When hunting ban was introduced as a temporary solution there was so much excitement, now that we are lifting it there is so much global uproar as if there is going to be a massacre of sorts on wildlife, yet we know that hunting is controlled and targets old bulls,” he stated.

He underscored the need to ensure that communities benefited from policy initiatives if they were to support them. “CBRNM policy needs to be reviewed to ensure that it speaks to the needs of the community with their involvement,” he said.

Professor Brian Child from University of Florida applauded Batswana for being at the forefront of Africans taking charge of wildlife narrative. “The quality of discussions I heard while interacting with community members is better than some of my masters and PHDs students,” he stated matter-of-factly.

The film also features community-based organisations and trusts who argue that the need for lifting of the ban had become an issue of human dignity. ENDS