20 Mar 2019

Consultation on the desire to transform Maun into a green city are reported to be progressing well. 

According to the Okavango Delta Management Plan and Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan, Maun was one of the best places for a tourism and service centre due green features such as Thamalakane River and multi-ethnic diversity.

Presenting the concept paper entitled Transforming Maun into a Green Tourist Town Towards an All-inclusive Sustainable Tourist Green City to the full council, the district commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego explained that consultations with stakeholders had been on going noting that all the engaged had welcomed the idea.

Since Maun was a gate way to the Okavango Delta World Heritage Site, he said they believed that the concept to transform the village into a green city was ideal and that it would contribute meaningfully to the country’s economy. 

He said tourism sector was one of Botswana’s cardinal economic sectors that contributed to government revenue after the mining.

Mr Leipego said Ngamiland and Chobe districts were doing well as far as tourism activities were concerned adding that even the Botswana National Spatial Plan called for transformation of Maun into a world-class green city. 

A green city is one that minimises development on new sites and it also promotes sustainable development in all senses be it environment, economic and social.

He said even the District Development Plan had indicated that Maun could be a tourism hub considering that local and international tourists flocked to the area. 

Principal physical planner, Mr Lesang Setimela explained that the tourism precinct was an area to the north of the Maun core strategically situated next to the Maun international airport and the Maun Central Business District (CBD) adding that essentially, it represents one of the key zones critical to the future success of Maun.

The area, he said, had potential to become a true mix use precinct with commercial and tourism uses as a signature entryway to the downtown. 

The envisaged land uses included tourist accommodation from budget hotels and self-catering room to high profile hotels, restaurants, and tourists information centres, among other things. 

Mr Setimela said they had secured a rich 48 hectares of land where 150 houses under custody of district commissioner, land board and council had to be relocated. 

He said they intended to lease the land to interested investors who could build houses. 

For their part, councillors adopted the concept and called for further action with relevant authorities. ENDS