The Kavango West Governor, Sirkka Ausiku, described a statement made by the Minister of Environment and Tourism regarding compensation to families of victims of crocodile and hippo attacks, as demeaning and insensitive. Ausiku on Thursday was reacting to a news report quoting Minister Pohamba Shifeta as saying that Government will not pay compensation for people killed by crocodiles and hippos while swimming or bathing in rivers, as these could be avoided. Ausiku said, as a region, they are completely disturbed by the demeaning nature of the statement, so much so that it was necessary to respond and register the displeasure the statement has brought to the residents of Kavango West. The governor further stated that there is no question that most deaths caused by crocodiles happen at the river either while swimming, fetching water, fishing or crossing the river since this has been the livelihoods of the residents of the Kavango West Region.