Romeo Muyunda

Sale of live crocodiles aimed at minimizing conflict

Sale of live crocodiles aimed at minimizing conflict

Niël Terblanché Constant attacks by crocodiles on people and an increase in the number of incidents of Human-Wildlife Conflict have led to a decision to sell some of the reptiles. Romeo Muyunda, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson said that as the custodian of Government-owned wildlife, the ministry will offer 40 crocodiles for sale to the public on tender. “Over the years, Namibia has experienced a remarkable recovery of wildlife populations as a result of good conservation methods. This has placed the country as a global leader in conservation,” Muyunda said. The increase in animal numbers has…
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Eight suspected rhino poachers arrested

Eight suspected rhino poachers arrested

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Environment Tourism and Forestry has arrested eight suspects on charges related to rhino poaching over the Easter long weekend, in two separate incidents. “Last week two suspects that illegally entered the Etosha National Park to hunt Rhinos were arrested during a mobile roadblock on the Tsumeb and Otavi road, two fresh rhino horns were found in their possession and confiscated by Blue Rhino Task Team,” the environment Ministry’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Romeo Muyunda said in a statement. A Namibian male by the name of Sakaria Johannes and Tomas Domingos an Angolan male, appeared in…
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Poaching in national parks decrease

Poaching in national parks decrease

Staff Wrter The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has noted that since strengthening its wildlife protection strategies in National Parks, poaching has decreased there. However, spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said that poachers appears to have shifted their focus to custodianship farms and private farms with white rhinos. “To date we have a recorded 33 rhinos poached in Namibia, 24 black rhinos and 9 white rhinos. This year’s poaching cases include nine (9) rhinos poached in custodianship farms, another 9 on private farms and 15 in the Etosha National Park. Namibia has recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020,…
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Forestry officials confiscate planks

Forestry officials confiscate planks

Staff Writer The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has confiscated 75 planks processed from tree trunks that were buried on a farm in Kavango West Region. All 75 planks were confiscated and transported to Mururani. “Officials responsible for the two Kavango regions on 15 July 2022 discovered 75 planks buried on farm unit no.1902 after a tip off from the public. The planks are believed to have been illegally harvested from farm no 1903. Both farms are in Ncamagoro constituency in the Kavango West Region,” said the ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda. It is alleged that the planks processed from…
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11 poached rhino carcasses found

11 poached rhino carcasses found

Staff Writer 11 poached rhino carcasses were discovered since the beginning of June in the Etosha National Park.The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a statement today said all the rhinos were found without horns and they were all black rhinos.“With our ongoing operation in Etosha National Park, we unfortunately discovered eleven (11) rhino carcasses as from the beginning June 2022 to date. All the eleven are black rhinos. Investigations indicate that the carcasses range between 3 weeks and older. This is regrettable and a strong indication that the fight against poaching is not over,”…
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Unprocessed timber seized

Unprocessed timber seized

Staff Writer The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced the seizure last weekend of raw timber from a truck that was destined for South Africa. The confiscation follows the ministry’s statement earlier this month that Namibia will only allow the export of processed timber products. According to the chief public relations officer in the ministry, Romeo Muyunda ‘’1500 planks on the truck are held and the transport permit temporally suspended pending further investigations to establish where the timber came from and if it was legally acquired”. Minister Pohamba Shifeta also warned Namibians not to over exploit natural resources,…
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N$15 million paid for human wildlife conflict

N$15 million paid for human wildlife conflict

Staff writer The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has paid out N$ 15 126 402 on human wildlife conflict cases over the past three years. This is according to statistics released to the Windhoek Observer yesterday by Romeo Muyunda, the ministry’s spokesperson. The figures indicate that since 2019 to date the ministry has disbursed N$7 890 550 to conservancies, N$2 454 402 for livestock losses, N$2 291 450 for crop damages, N$2 000 000 for loss of life and N$490 000 for injuries caused by human wildlife conflict. Furthermore, the statistics indicate that there were 20 case of people…
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Man killed by elephant, GRN to pay N$100 000

Man killed by elephant, GRN to pay N$100 000

Eba Kandovazu THE family of Matala Mafuta, aged 71, who was instantly killed by an elephant yesterday in the Bwabwata National Park, will be paid N$ 100 000 by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Mafuta, according to the ministry Spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, was attacked and killed by the elephant around 9h30. He hails from Omega 3 village. Muyunda explains that the incident occurred in the area of the village, which is within the park and is zoned as Management Resource Use Zone, Zambezi region. Investigations found that the victim was on his way to his nearby crop field…
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Farmer confesses to poisoning lions for killing seven of his goats

Farmer confesses to poisoning lions for killing seven of his goats

Eba Kandovazu THE discovery of four lion and two hyena carcasses last weekend has led to the arrest of a 50-year-old man, who police say confessed to the poisoning of the animals. Preliminary investigations found that the lions and hyenas killed the suspect's seven goats before they were trapped and poisoned. Kunene Commander, Commissioner James Nderura, says a second suspect is yet to be arrested, adding that the four collared lions killed were worth N$260 000. The suspect, who cannot be named until he appears in the Opuwo Magistrate's Court tomorrow, reportedly confessed to the poisoning. Ministry of Environment, Tourism…
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Man accidentally shot in hope of getting buffalo meat

Man accidentally shot in hope of getting buffalo meat

Eba Kandovazu THE Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry, says a 38- year-old man who was accidentally shot on Wednesday while officials were trying to put down a stray and aggressive buffalo, was most likely hoping to be one of the first public members to get meat once the buffalo was put down. According to the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, the incident happened at Mbwata village in the Ndiyona constituency of the Kavango East region. He says officials from the ministry, and Namibia Defense Force Anti-poaching operation officials, were hunting down the buffalo, which he says was wounded. "Community members…
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