17 Aug 2015

Residents of Okavango district have been urged to use the Okavango Listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to their own advantage by opening tourism businesses like hotels and lodges.

Speaking at the Okavango delta listing celebration held on Friday August 14in Shakawe, the Assistant Minister of Health Dr Alfred Madigele said that it would be awesome if tourists come to tour the 1000^th heritage site in the world and utilises accommodation services offered by the locals.

Dr Madigele urged them to preserve the delta as its listing signifies that it will boost the tourism industry in the country. 

He also said Botswana as a country has seen it imperative to share the beauty of the delta with other countries.

“Sharing the beauty of the Okavango Delta with the world will also help other countries to assist us in cases like floods, therefore I urge you to preserve it.” He pleaded.

He also noted out that tourism is the third source of income in the development of Botswana, so the Okavango Delta will help mightily in benefiting the Okavango residents and the country. 

Dr Madigele informed the residents consultations were held with Dikgosi and the community regarding the listing. 

He also said that the Okavango River feeding the delta starts from Angola and Namibia, therefore the countries also agreed on the listing.

Kgosi Kea Lempadi of Shakawe also encouraged the community to use the opportunity of the listing.

“Let this chance not pass you by, open lodges and restaurants. It is always encouraging finding a Motswana owning a tourism business in the Okavango,” Kgosi Lempadi said.

One of the community representatives, Mr Reuben Pikinini noted that they are doing everything to make sure that they preserve the Okavango Delta and make sure that tourists find it clean.He said they have a volunteer community sanitation project that focuses on removing rubbish and anything that could be harmful from the delta. Mr Pikinini said the project also helps in building pit latrines for the community as a way to preserve the delta. ENDS