FREELANCE GUIDES FIGHT FOR SHARE OF GERMAN GRANT
A GROUP of freelance guides and chefs in Maun have expressed disappointment at the way the government has sidelined them in the distribution of P16 million of the wage subsidy donated by the Republic of Germany a few months ago.
Speaking at a press conference held in Maun on Thursday last week, the freelancers maintained that the government, despite their important role of promoting and developing the country’s tourism sector, has sidelined them
However, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Oduetse Koboto, explained that the money was specifically meant to assist community-based organisations.
However, the freelancers argued that Koboto misinterpreted everything because community would include freelancers, too.
“The subsidy was supposed to have been running from June until December but we have not been given a single Thebe to date. To add salt to injury, Koboto says we are just hustlers,” said a disappointed freelancer called Tiego.
Although Koboto explained that part of the money will be used to support law enforcement agencies at protected areas and help in infrastructure development, the freelancers maintain that P16 million is a lot of money for a population of slightly over 2 million people.
Yet another guide, Brooks Kamanakao, accused the government of caring very little about its people who are at the fore of making sure that the growth of its tourism sector is a success, “Government does not care about us yet it is through us that tourists keep returning to Botswana after experiencing our country through our services. There are many risks that come with being a tour guide, and we gain a lot of experience out there in the bush, with the animals and working with tourists before we get these professional guide licences.”
Kamanakao’s contention was that it was in fact a disappointing act by the government to class them as hustlers when they are the ones who licence them to take care of its international visitors and trust them with their lives in the jungle.
“Koboto recently labelled us hustlers and his words hurt us because we do not understand why he calls us hustlers when we are licenced guides. It takes us four years and above to get these licences, it is not by chance that we got them. For a trip to be successful, we need a team to go into the bush with tourists, a guide, chef, waiter, a driver and somebody who will pitch tents. It is not just a simple job and for someone to simply call us hustlers is not on,” added yet another tour guide, Chris Moletsanaka.