30 Jul 2013

Parliament has been informed that there is no Board member of the Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) who shares a legal practice with the Chairman of Wilderness Holdings.

Answering a question in Parliament, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said BTO works closely with land authorities and provides technical expertise on the assessment and allocation of concession rights in tourism lease areas, therefore BTO has influence on the allocation of concession rights.

Mr Khama also said there were currently no such individuals in the Board of BTO who held office in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) adding that the impartiality of the Board was not compromised.

Maun West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi had asked the minister whether any BTO member of the Board shared a legal practice with the Chairman of Wilderness Holding and if so, did BTO have any mandate or influence on the allocation of concession rights in tourism lease areas.

Mr Moremi also wanted to know if there were individuals at BTO who held any office in the BDP.ENDS