A storm is brewing in the communities of Tobere, Kaputura and Kycia, and beneficiaries of the Tcheku Community Trust following reports that a controversial hunting quota has been allocated to a company allegedly linked to a convicted wildlife trafficker and a prominent political figure.
Community members are up in arms after discovering that the District Commissioner’s office recently approved a lucrative hunting quota to a company reportedly co-owned by Dawie Groenewald, an internationally wanted wildlife criminal and a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Justice.
Groenewald, a South African national, has long been associated with illegal wildlife trafficking, including rhino poaching, and is facing multiple charges both at home and
abroad. His alleged involvement in Botswana’s community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programme has drawn sharp criticism from conservationists and
residents alike.
Concerns have also been raised about the role of the District Commissioner, who approved the quota allocation despite Groenewald’s notoriety.
Residents are demanding answers from District Commissioner William Keareng on why he has released a hunting quota to an old board of directors who in the past year were embroiled in alleged issues of financial mismanagement of funds reportedly over P1.3 million.
“We are deeply concerned and alarmed by your office’s decision to allocate the 2025/2026 hunting quota to the outgoing Board of Trustees, whose official term expired on 17th June 2025, as stipulated in Clause 9.4 of the Constitution, which limits trustees’ terms to three years unless renewed through a constitutionally mandated AGM and community vote. We observe that this expired board is now actively engaging in hunting preparations without holding an Annual General Meeting and without any form of community consultation…,” reads an official letter written to the District Commissioner Ngamiland in Gumare signed by several members of the community.
The company, reportedly linked to Dawi Groenewald, a wildlife criminal currently facing over 1,600 charges in South Africa, involving racketeering, money laundering, illegal hunting
of rhino and dealing in rhino horn has ties with the old board of directors. Dawi, who is known for illegal wildlife trade and poaching activities across the region, is believed to be
operating under the radar in Tcheku in partnership with political and corporate actors.
What’s raising eyebrows further is the fact that the company appears to be working closely with a controversial and allegedly illegitimate board of directors of the Tcheku Community Trust, a board that many residents say does not represent them. Community members have been calling for the board’s removal for over a year, citing lack of transparency, mismanagement of trust funds, and failure to consult the community on critical decisions.
When reached for comment, District Commissioner William Keareng was not unavailable.
Despite the community’s vocal opposition, the District Commissioner reportedly ignored their pleas and proceeded to issue the quota. Sources close to the matter claim that officials
are protecting the old board, possibly due to long-standing personal and political relationships. “We are deeply disappointed,” said one community elder who requested anonymity. “How can a person who is standing trial for thousands of wildlife crimes be given access to our land and resources? This is not just illegal, it is immoral.”
The decision has prompted renewed calls for accountability and an independent investigation into how the quota was issued and whether due diligence was followed in vetting the company. “This goes against the spirit of community-based natural resource management,” said a local civil society activist. “It is unacceptable for decisions affecting
people’s livelihoods and environment to be made behind closed doors and in favour of individuals facing serious international charges.”
As of now, the District Commissioner has not issued a public statement regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, residents of Tcheku say they are preparing to escalate their complaints to higher authorities and may seek legal intervention. The story raises serious questions about governance, accountability, and the integrity of natural resource management in the region and whether powerful individuals are being allowed to exploit public resources while silencing the very communities meant to benefit from them.
