09 Apr 2017

Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism has addressed meetings at Mababe and Khwai in 2016 and in Sankoyo and Maun last month.

 

Parliament was told on April 6 that Tsaro Lodge in Khwai was awarded to Kgori Safaris and subsequently a lease was signed between the Department of Lands and the Investor in September 2015.

 

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said this in response to a question from MP for Maun East, Mr Konstantino Markus.

 

Mr Khama said he had been informed that they were currently undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). 

 

As the process dictates, he said, Tsaro Lodge was subjected to a public tender and awarded to Kgori Safaris in January 2015 through the land bank process.

 

He further said there were delays in processing implementation of the land bank due to the review of the lease agreements as well as designating the authority managing the land management process.

 

“This resulted in Kgori Safaris only signing the lease in September 2015, when they commenced the development processes including ongoing EIA,” he added.

 

Minister Khama said government had entered into a binding 15-year lease contract with Kgori Safaris on behalf of Khwai Community Trust. 

 

He said the lease process was facilitated by the ministry following Khwai Community Trust request, which at the time did not have the resources to operate the facility.

 

Mr Markus had wanted to know when the minister would address Kgotla meetings in Khwai, Mababe, Sankoyo and Maun to appreciate concerns of the communities with regards to the current situation of Tsaro Lodge in Khwai.

 

The MP also asked the minister when the tender to run Khwai Lodge was awarded.

 

He also wanted to know the cause of delay in the operation of the lodge.

Further, he wanted to know if government would consider handing over the lodge to the community, and if not, why. ENDS