10 Jun 2019

Botswana Railways will avail a passenger train for the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000km Race billed for Selebi Phikwe from June 21.

Acting public relations and communications manager, Mr Samuel Lephalo informed members of the media during a tour of the race route recently.

The race is expected to attract a maximum of 30 000 people locally and internationally.

Mr Lephalo said the decision to avail a passenger train was to manage traffic on the Gaborone/Francistown road commonly known as A1.

The train will transport passengers from Lobatse to Selebi Phikwe on June 21 and leave for Lobatse on June 23.

Meanwhile, the final route to be developed around the project area, will be announced a week before the race.

The race will start from Sam Sono Stadium in Selebi Phikwe and cover the Northern, South Western and Eastern Block, that is areas in Bobirwa, Tswapong, Mmadinare while the last lap will be at the Sam Sono Stadium on june 23.

The media also got the opportunity to visit the designated camp sites at Selebi Phikwe Showgrounds and Makhubu area, which will be used for the music festival.

Mr Lephalo said the showgrounds, which is owned and managed by the Selebi Phikwe Town council (SPTC), was a strategic camp site not far from the route, hence spectators could easily walk from the place to the route.

Makhubu area, also a SPTC facility, will be used to host the music festival on June 22.The race is expected to start with a pre-qualification race on June 21 that will determine the starting line for the following day.

Meanwhile, Selebi Phikwe Airport will also be available for use.

The airport was refurbished by SPEDU in partnership with CAAB to the tune of P14m.

Airport officer, Ms Bobeilwe Nvungama said the airport had been in a bad state and was closed until SPEDU and CAAB agreed to refurbish among other things the runway and the taxi way. ENDs