Mangetti — The European Commission (EC) has injected an amount of N$4,6 million into the Rural Poverty Reduction Programme (RPRP) project called Enhancing the Wildlife-based Economy in Rural Areas Project.

The project, which is managed by the Environment and Tourism Ministry, aims to contribute to Namibia's fight against poverty by enabling rural communities to benefit significantly from new or improved wildlife-based livelihood activities.

The EC's Representative in Namibia, Elizabeth Pape, announced the donation during the launch of the Mangetti National Park on Wednesday, adding that funding would be used for the capturing and translocating of game into the newly proclaimed national park.

Pape indicated that the funding will help to cover costs for upgrading and rehabilitation of the national park's fence, entrance, as well as the construction of offices for administrative functions.

According to her, the money would also be used for the drilling and equipping of two boreholes for water provision to the game as well as the purchasing of two 4x4 vehicles for the park.

Pape revealed that the EC has extended funding the project that was initially supposed to end this year for another six months until next year.

Meanwhile, the Environment and Tourism Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said at the launch that preparations for such infrastructure development are well on track, adding that its implementation will take place before the project ends in July next year.

Animals that would be translocated from the Etosha National Park to Mangetti National Park include 170 common impala, 80 oryx, 75 kudu, 18 giraffe and 100 zebras.

Nampa