12 Nov 2020

The implementation of community constituency programme (CCP) has brought hope to resident of Xaxaba that their village will, despite being ungazetted, enjoy development and access to services just like other Batswana in the rest of the country. 

Residents Xaxaba, a remote area situated in the Okavango Delta, have for a long time decried lack of developments in their village.

The area is renowned for wildlife and other water based activities such as mokoro excursions through traditional dugout canoes.

Besides traditional thatched mud huts, Village Development Committee (VDC) office and some few modern one roomed houses built by the community trust, the only decent development found in the area is a craft shop which was constructed through CCP.

The construction of a craft shop had brought joy to villagers and raised hopes that more development implementation in the village will follow. The craft shop was constructed to assist baskets weavers to have a one stop market where they sell their products to tourists.

VDC chairperson, Mr Lekopanye Mokobela confirmed in an interview that they had longed for developments and their hopes were now pinned on the CCP. 

However, he was ecstatic that the craft shop had transformed the look of their village and it would attract tourists.  

 He thanked the government for introducing CCP initiative saying they were hopeful that it would pave way for more developments and close the gaps. 

CCP initiative is aimed at transforming local economies and improve the livelihood of communities by augmenting national development plan as it is focused on developments lacking in constituencies. 

Through the initiative, communities identify and undertake projects that would create employment and uplift their livelihoods as well as the constituency status.

Mr Mokobela was nonetheless optimistic that projects such as the construction of a clinic and a primary school in their village, which had been pending for a long period of time because Xaxaba was ungazetted, would be implemented through CCP and restore dignity into their lives.

 He said residents were forced to travel long distances in areas infested with dangerous wild animals to access services in Maun. 

He said it was frustrating as the village had been in existence since 1963. He also noted that the area was not accessible as residents had to use boat or air transportation to reach the village especially during the flood seasons. 

Mr Mokobela explained that they lived in poverty despite being in an area with potential for tourism, noting that unemployment among the youth was high. 

The area, he said offered plenty of water based safari activities such as boat cruising, fishing and mekoro excursion.

 Even though residents survive through cutting and selling of reeds, the VDC chairperson said business was low because of COVID-19 pandemic.  

Meanwhile, Mr Mokobela pointed out that the area had a chief who was installed in 2003. Ends