Cabinet approves deproclamation of game park

RECENT developments at Namibia's Skorpion Zinc Mine has seen the rapid expansion of the Rosh Pinah settlement in the south, situated in the western portion of the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park. As such, Cabinet has approved a submission by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for the deproclamation . of an area surrounding Rosh Pinah for the development of a township. At least 300 new houses will be built and the development will subsequently be in conflict with conservation practices. However, seven new farms will be incorporated into Ai-Ais as they were deemed unsuitable for resettlement but will significantly expand the habitat of the game in the area. This will prevent them from straying out of the park and subsequently make them less vulnerable to poachers. The inclusion of the seven farms also increases the portion of land that Namibia can contribute to the Ai-Ais Richtersveld transfrontier park agreement it recently signed with South Africa incorporating the Northern Cape's Richtersveld National Park. (Adéle Mackenzie)