Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
THE San community have lobbied Government to grant them hunting permit waivers saying integration into mainstream society has disrupted their lives as they cannot conduct some of their rituals.

This emerged in a meeting between the San/Tjwa community and Government officials that was held in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North recently. A delegation led by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo held a meeting with the marginalised community as part of mainstreaming them to greater society.

The San community, were known for being hunters and gatherers and their Tjwa language is facing extinction as less than five people can speak it.

The death of their language might mean the loss of their culture too. Most of them live in abject poverty and are uneducated.

They are difficult to access and to contact them, Government and donors have to go through their trusted community leaders.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Moyo said Government held a meeting with the San community in pursuit of President Mnangagwa’s ideal that no community should be left behind on development matters.

He said the community raised concerns that being mainstreamed to larger society has affected their cultural rites.

“There are concerns about the disruption of their livelihoods including hunting. Most of these people were living in the Hwange National Park area, so they have some concerns because there are rituals they must perform using the animals. We will forward their concerns so that they can be tackled. It was good for us to go and listen to their stories and we were listening,” he said.

It is illegal for anyone to engage in hunting activities without a permit and if anyone is found doing it, they face a mandatory nine-year jail term. Minister Moyo said among other issues, the San community wants to have their own chief.

“We went to discuss many issues, their welfare, their inclusivity, you know the President does not want to leave anyone behind on developmental issues. So, we went to interact with them on their areas of concern: clinics, schools and the issue of national leadership of their own. All those issues were discussed. We think that we have made progress in many of those issues but after we listened to things like that, we must put it into consideration and see what we can do,” said Minister Moyo.

He said Government has already started addressing some of their concerns, including building a school within their community.

Tsoro-o-tso San Development Trust director and founder Mr Davy Ndlovu, who has been lobbying for the inclusion of the San community on development matters, commended Government for taking an initiative to meet the community.

“For the first time we had three ministers at one go and it’s something that is uncommon. It happened a long time ago but ministers were no longer coming. In that meeting ministers gave themselves time to listen to the concerns of the people, that was the most important thing. Because most of the time you might engage in discussions but not come to an agreement,” said Mr Ndlovu.

“But when they came, they listened and gave responses where they could. Meeting Minister July Moyo, gave our elders hope that it would be easier to push their agendas going forward. Because if you lack traditional leadership representation, it means you have no representation at all. For example, when Government programmes are being rolled out, if you don’t have a traditional leader to stand for you then there is a likelihood of not getting any help.”

He said the San community also revealed to Government that they have a desire to get their children educated but do not have the financial capacity to pay fees.-@nqotshili