20 Feb 2019

Chobe District leadership has been informed that emerging projects have been incorporated into the revised Kasane-Kazungula Development Plan.

The projects include Kasane Airport, Kazungula Bridge, Chobe Zambezi Water Transfer Scheme as well as the Shoreline Strategy.

This was said by the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism Mr Kitso Mokaila during a meeting to discuss the plan on February 19.

He assured the gathering that government was committed to the projects and stated that the development guidelines would be finished in a few months.

Mr Mokaila also said lack of serviced land in the district had been a hindrance to the smooth relocation of some facilities that were on prime tourism land.  

He promised to meet with the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services to resolve the land servicing issue.

Mr Mokaila called on the private sector to take part in the realisation of the plan, adding that community involvement was also critical in the value chain, through community based natural resource development centres.

Mr Mokaila said there would be a re-assessment of some residential plots which were developed because of the delay in the implementation of the plan.

Senior urban planner, who is also the plan coordinator, Mr Eugene Ndaba said there was need to rationalise land use for optimum performance.

He explained that some prime tourism land was occupied by government institutions which needed to relocate.  The institutions included Chobe Land Board, Regional Education Centre, Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation Services and Prisons Farm, Chobe Brigade as well as the Central Transport Organisation.

Mr Ndaba also indicated that some of the development projects in the Kasane–Kazungula re-development plan included the interpretation centre (historical educational hub), museum and a jetty.

Chobe MP and also assistant minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Machana Shamukuni, expressed appreciation for Mr Mokaila’s quick reaction towards the re-development plan.

He acknowledged his visit noting that it would pave way for the implementation of the plan and expressed his certainty that projects would be implemented smoothly.

Mr Shamukuni said he was hopeful that as the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism harnessed tourism opportunities in Chobe, the locals would benefit from the employment chances that would be on offer.Ends