07 Aug 2014

The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT), Mr Tshekedi Khama has urged parents to nurture children to grow up knowing the importance of conservation.

Speaking at the 10th Nedbank Tour de-Tuli held at Mashatu Game Reserve recently, Mr Khama said conservation areas gave opportunities to a pristine environment. He urged participants to ride with care and reminded them that the Tour de-Tuli cycling was not a race but a ride.

For his part, the managing director of Nedbank, Mr David Macready said the 2014 Tour de-Tuli was unique and different from the past as the 70 kilometres ride woud be done along rough trails and dropping into sandy drifts caused by the floods earlier in the year.

Mr Macready also highlighted that the surrounding was also unique because of the establishment of the Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area.

He said the area straddles the confluence of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South African borders to control the movements of wild animals along the borders.

For his part, the chairperson of Children in the Wilderness, Mr Russel Friedman said Tour de-Tuli was meant to raise funds for the charity organisation.

He said Children in the Wilderness was a charity organisation responsible to teach schools and people about conservation.
Mr Friedman said the money raised would be donated to schools near the Tuli area such as Lentswe-le-Moriti and Motlhabaneng.

He said the money helps schools in buying materials such as books and other stationery while the other was used in boot camps where children from different schools were taught about conservation and its importance in people’s lives.

Many people near Tuli have benefited from conservation areas such as Mashatu Game Reserve as animal care takers, game drivers and chefs, he said.

He said some of the education they offer includes the dangers of animals such as elephants on people lives.

Giving an overview about the Tuli area, a professional speaker from South Africa, Mr Rob Caskie said the Tuli area was used as a boat by a British man named John Cecil Rhodes to transport goods from South to North.

He said Mr Rhodes painted the world pink as he managed to construct a railway line from Cape to Cairo to ease trade. ENDS