06 Nov 2016

Makomoto community has decided to form a village trust .

In an interview recently, one of  Makomoto Trust’s founders, Mr Seikese Mogende said the trust, which occupied a land of 700 hectares, had been registered.

They intended to build an education centre where youths would go for environmental education and also have fun in the bush.

However, he said funding was still a challenge, adding that they had approached Forestry Conservation Botswana for funding and applied for grants at the National Environmental Fund.

He said that would be the second game park in Central District after the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust noting that he was impressed by Gaborone Game Reserve hence they ended up bringing up the idea of a trust to Makomoto residents.

Mr Mogende said they aimed to restock non-predators such as Zebras, Antelopes, Kudus, Springboks and Impala in order to turn the place into a living and attractive area for the community of Tonota, Mabesekwa and the surrounding areas.

He said they wanted to restore the area to its previous natural state and provide economic benefits to the local communities through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources.

One of the trust objectives, said Mr Mogende include improving the lives of Batswana through forestry related activities such as tourism creation through transformation of a game park in Makomoto area.

He said due to poverty, the residents have resorted to selling firewood in order to earn a living. They also liaise with the Department of Forestry to obtain permits to sell firewood.

‘’Government now wants a license for wood harvesting but it is not everyone who is going to afford that as it is not cheap,’’ he noted. ENDS