14 May 2019

Selebi Phikwe business community has been urged to prepare for the upcoming Toyota Kalahari 1000 Desert Race anticipated to kick start on June 21  until 23.

The race, which will begin and end at Sam Sono Stadium, will be held in Selebi Phikwe for the first time ever and will continue to be hosted in the town for the next three years.

Briefing the business community at Selebi Phikwe town hall on May 13, an official from Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) advised them to provide high quality goods and services to multitudes of spectators expected to grace the event.

Mr Keotshepile Mphusu who is BTO tourism development manager emphasised the role of the business community in making  the race successful.

The race, he said was expected to draw participants both within and outside the country, particularly Southern African countries.
 

“Multitudes of spectators who are going to descend in our town are going to need your service,” he said.

Mr Mphusu noted that different sectors of the economy would benefit from the race citing transport sector, fuel stations, food outlets, accommodation, retailers and vendors, amongst others.

“Are you ready and resourced enough to cater for the anticipated overwhelming number of spectators,” he rhetorically asked the business community.
 

He further urged them to join hands to make Toyota Kalahari 1000 Desert Race a success.

The race is expected to cover the Northern, South Western and Eastern Block which include villages under Bobirwa and Palapye administrative authorities.

However Mr Mphusu urged the hospitality sector to ensure that their facilities were of good standard. He further encouraged them to offer quality service to their customers.

All the hotels in Selebi Phikwe according to Mr Mphusu confirmed their bookings and were already fully booked including those in the periphery. He also said the route for the race would be announced at a later stage to avoid compromising the credibility of the race.

“Spectators would be treated to a music festival which is expected to be held at Makhubu area,” revealed Mr Mphusu.

Camping sites would be at showground and private facilities  around the race area. Selebi Phikwe which is taking after Jwaneng was chosen because of its competitive edge in terms of infrastructure and hospitality.

Mr Mphusu said the town had excellent road and rail network, good communication network, up to date health facilities both government and private including the BCL Mine hospital as well as the stadium and the golf course.

“The town can also be accessed easily through border entries from South Africa,” he further noted.

Also, Mr Mphusu said all these provided a foundation for Selebi Phikwe to offer a successful race if topped with quality service.

The race will start with a pre-qualification race held on the Friday afternoon, which determines the starting line for the following morning.

Vehicles cover the first 500 km on Saturday and continue with the last 500 km on Sunday afternoon after a night’s stop over at a designated point along the race route.

Members of the business community thanked Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race organizers for briefing them about race. They also promised to give the race all the support and assured the organizers of high quality goods and service. ENDS