NHACAINGA CONSERVANCY

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

During the past few years an enormous amount of time and effort has gone into building a solid relationship with the neighbouring local communities. We have a good understanding of their problems and they of ours.   We have now reached a stage in our relationship where we have an understanding and they have agreed to support the Coutada 9 project into the future where they will benefit from the revenue and work opportunities generated by our operation.

Once the project, which has been accepted by the local people, has been ratified and signed by the Central Government we will start working together in the areas of the Coutada that now fall under the control od the locals according to the new zoning of the area, namely the agricultural area and the community area.

It will not be a simple task to get the community project running as it will require time and funds.   We are hopeful that we will have enough of each and also that we will be successful.

In the past year many people have voluntarily moved from the Coutada area due to the harsh conditions there and the lack of rain.   We have started a program where we assist people who wish to leave the area to move to other places.

Children from the neighbouring community

Some of the problems that we have with the local community are due to them having been able to do what they wanted in the Coutada for many years with no worry about the law or rights of the Coutada lease holders.   This has changed recently with us being in the area and we have been pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of us by the local community.

Fire and the burning of the grass for hunting or clearing purposes, new fields being slashed and burnt for trying to grow crops that always fail, cutting of certain types of trees for bee hives and the settlements of new people in the Coutada are a few of the problems experienced.   We are happy to say that the locals now are beginning to understand that this cannot continue and that they are changing.