26 Jul 2020

Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) general manager, Mr Seikaneng Moepedi, has expressed concern about government delay to refund them the P2.9 million that was paid during introduction of land bank in 2016.

The introduction of land bank was meant to ensure Batswana ventured into tourism industry since government was worried that foreigners were in control of a larger share of tourism activities, while Batswana were on lower level of the sector.

Mr Moepedi told  a parliamentary portfolio committee on Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change that they issued an invoice to Botswana Tourism Organisation last year and were told that they would be refunded during the current financial year, but that had not been possible.

He explained that their trust, which operated NG32, served six settlements, assisted the communities with provision of potable water, transportation of pensioners and patients to access services in the neighbouring villages. 

Therefore, that they needed the money to cater for such activities. 

Mr Moepedi also requested zooning of NG35 concession that he said was vast and could be allocated to trusts, which wanted to practice hunting activities. 

He stated that OKMCT wanted a portion from the concession for hunting purposes. The concession, he said, started at buffalo fence up to Makalamabedi fence and hoped that by zooning it,  communities would benefit more. 

The trust was also against the day trips from Boro River to Moremi Game Reserve noting that they were not benefiting and yet their areas were used for transit. 

Member of Khwai Development Trust board, Mr Tinah Tameti, requested government to allocate its campsites situated in national parks and game reserves to young people and communities residing in their proximity.

He said the campsites were operated by same people since 2006, despite government arrangement that people would operate them on rotational basis of five years.

North West District Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho, appealed to the committee to support the council in advocating for establishment of tourism committee within the district council.

Currently, he said, there was no forum where the trust concerns could be discussed except learning about them from district development committee and technical advisory committees.

Mr Ntsogotlho said through the committee, they could make sound decisions before escalating those beyond their control to relevant ministry.

Parliamentary portfolio committee chairperson, Mr Polson Majaga, assured support and appreciated Okavango Research Institute proposal that would help improve the tourism industry. ends