07 Aug 2017

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Head of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Oduetse Koboto has assured members of Lake Ngami Conservation Trust  that a small charcoal factory at Sehithwa would be established before end of the year.

He assured them during a graduation ceremony of 20 participants from Lake Ngami and Haina Veld Farmers Association who have completed a successful training on charcoal production.

He said the project would be a stepping stone following the training, adding that expansion of the factory would be done by the trust after they generated some income.

The project followed the trust intention to kick start wood processing project with a view to broaden its resource base.

The trust sent four youths from the village to Namibia on a fact finding mission at the Namibian Wood Industry Association, courtesy of UNDP, who agreed to fund certain community projects.

Dr Koboto explained that the project would improve the livelihoods of the six communities as members of the trust.

He said charcoal production was a perfect example of UNDP’s mission and vision.

“This project will help to eradicate poverty in the six villages and I wish the communities could work hard and enjoy the benefits. If funds permit, we want to set up a big charcoal factory that will be an answer to youth unemployment in the affected villages,” she added.

The UNDP mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development and growth by assisting them to build their capacity to design and carry out development programmes in poverty eradication, employment creation and sustainable livelihoods. With the factory project, he said they wanted to see more trucks coming to Botswana to load and exporting to other countries.

It was reported that the trust had secured a lucrative market in Namibia.

He urged the graduates to apply the skills they acquired, noting that if they wanted to part ways with the trust, it would be advisable for them to start their own businesses.

“With such businesses, the economic benefits would be accruing in Botswana. I urge you to establish your niche because if you don’t, others would push you out of space. This is what we call local economic empowerment and it should start here,” he added.

Dr Koboto also revealed that he had been informed that retail stores were ready to partner with the trust and encouraged graduates to ensure hard work and commitment as the market was already available.

The trust chairperson, Ms Helmi Bokhutlo thanked UNDP for coming on board when they were in need of assistance.

She said the organisation agreed to fund bush encroachment project as a community project and as a result, the trust came up with the charcoal project as they realised that they would salvage harvesting of dead woods in the lake with an aim to control bush encroachment.

She was hopeful that the initiative would make a huge impact in the lives of the communities, adding that the project would indeed create employment opportunities for the locals.

Kgosi Boitiro Dithapo of Sehithwa hailed UNDP for always participating in community activities.

He said the project would improve the local economy and also boost the trust financial muscle.

He said UNDP had shown the communities that they could not rely on fishing only, but they could also explore other opportunities using the natural resources at the lake. ENDS