By:Uakutura Kambaekua
Johannes Antsino, Outjo constituency councillor has challenged private game reserves and park owners to extend their social responsibility to more than just employing locals as cleaners, cooks, barmen and waiters, but also assist the regional leadership in addressing the education plight in the Kunene region.
The region is home to some of the country’s best and most profitable game reserves, stretching from the southern to the north-eastern parts of the region.
Namibia recently reported a boost in tourism activities, a development that has prompted Antsino to urge game reserve bosses to assist the region in its drive to secure funding for students’ tuition at tertiary institutions.
Antsino told The Villager in an interview that education is a high priority to the regional leadership, noting that it is unfair for it to be the sole responsibility of the government.
“As we all know education is crucial to us. And as it is said, education is the fundamental key for success. Therefore, I don’t think it will be fair enough if we leave education entirely on the shoulder of the government.”
“That is why now we are saying lodges among other institutions, and everyone doing business in our region must come on board and contribute towards the fund that is going to assist our youth when they go to universities,” he said.
The councilloremphasised the imperative for these lodges to start funding students through scholarships and bursaries, as he observes that there are no lodges in the region which are sending young people to study.
“They are benefiting by employing people who are educated. Why can’t they also come on board and educate people so that they can also employ others? This is a humble request for them to come on board and contribute to the education our youth because education is very important,” he said.
According to him, because recreational and tourism activities take centre stage in the region, owners of these tourism attractions owe it to the region to contribute to the regional education development fund in order to make sure that the labour force is sourced from within the region.
“As much as they are saying that their customers are from other countries, the fact that they are doing their business in our region, they owe it to contribute to making sure that at least they employ skilled labourers.”
“When visitors come, they are coming to see our geographical area and see what our culture is like. For example, Ovahimba and Ovazemba. That’s already convincing enough to say that they should also invest,” Antsino noted.
The councillor further added that his request is being made in good faith, and should not be seen as an instruction for the game lodges to donate funds, but that it is rather an appeal to them to extend a helping hand towards the welfare of the communities in the region.
“It’s just an idea that we thought of. Corporate social responsibility has worked well in other regions for public good, with Erongo being a good example. Businesses ought to come on board in activities that are in the interest of the communities. I think it’s about time that we also copied what other companies are doing in other regions of the country. We are not saying that they should give millions, but the little that they can provide can make a difference in the lives of our people,” Antsino concluded.
