Page 57 - Gondwana Value Creation Report 2020

HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT Namibia has 86 registered communal conservancies, covering on training non-Gondwana employees. conservancy and community relations in the Sikondo Village close to Hakusembe, we At Etosha King Nehale we are leading Our lodges in conservancies Chobe River Camp

4.
We spent over
We appointed a dedicated Community
In addition to the 4km pipeline installed in
Conservancies
N$39 000
Liaison Officer who oversees our
the way in responsible, community-
installed another 2km to provide drinking
empowering and cultural tourism.
19.6% of its land area. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism
water to community members who live
the Zambezi and Kavango regions.
We opened the lodge in the middle
recognises them as official, and they are self-governing
far away from the water supply pipeline
democracies run by their members.
of the crisis in the King Nehale
(NamWater).
Many conservancies have excellent potential as
Conservancy
tourist destinations, but potential joint venture, profit
share agreements are scarce as corporates are wary The project was funded through the Conservancy in June. in the Salambala
of community-based land ownership. Nevertheless, 15 community members from our nine Hakusembe Community Development
Gondwana makes substantial long-term investments (up conservancy and community partners We proposed a new distribution structure Fund, and completed with the assistance of
to 25-year agreements) into these conservancies. We are were enrolled in an NTA guide training to deliver funds to communities directly local community members. We paid
committed to them and their role in Namibia, and believe N$566 000 Etosha King Nehale
in building strong, culturally sensitive relationships with course. Gondwana facilitates the to ease the burden on conservancies. in the King Nehale
them. training and internships in partnership We are negotiating a benefit plan with Conservancy
On request, conservancy partners may invest in Gondwana with the NTA. relevant parties. In 2020 we took the King Nehale in joint-venture contributions to
shares with cash benefits from joint venture partnership. Conservancy committee on a tour through the King Nehale Conservancy, the
We feel this is positive evidence of our brand’s strength. We Etosha National Park to Etosha Safari Camp Community Development Fund and
dream of a future where Gondwana is partially owned by its and Damara Mopane Lodge to show them the Ondonga Traditional Authority. Namushasha River
employees and communities. Lodge and River
We helped provide access to Cancer how other Gondwana lodges operate and Villa in the Mashi
These communities support conservation, as tourism Association outreaches at six lodges and for them to meet other employees. Conservancy
offers them tangible benefits. But there are concerns We donated hygiene products and over
that these benefits are not reaching them in the right in seven neighbouring communities and
manner or timeframe due to bureaucratic inefficiency. 1 150 face masks to schools, old age conservancies.
During 2020, we continued to pay minimum conservancy homes and other community projects.
fees despite lower income, and even no income at times.
We have proposed a distribution structure that would 15 rocket stoves donated to Epupa Omarunga Epupa-
directly benefit organised community structures to ease Conservancy. Falls Camp in the
the burden on conservancies, and are encouraging a fair Epupa Conservancy
benefit distribution plan with relevant parties.
We invest substantially
in conservancies, despite Zambezi Mubala
Lodge and Camp
the difficult year, as we in the Sikunga
Conservancy
believe that it is a way to

change the future. Palmwag Lodge
work with the
Torra, Anabeb
and Sesfontein
Conservancies

Hakusembe River
Lodge in the
Mbunza Traditional
Area

54 VALUE CREATION REPORT 2020 GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA 55