29 Nov 2020

Toyota 1 000km Desert Race organisers are preparing for the 2021 event with a bit of variations in the menu, environmental impact assessment lead consultant Geofrey Khwarae of Champs Botswana has said.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the desert race was cancelled and consequently forced organisers and partners to put behind them the disappointment of 2020 and prepare early for the 2021 race. 

When updating Bobirwa Subordinate Council about the race recently, Khwarae said in addition to health protocols, he hoped that there would be more regulations that would necessitate hosting of the coveted motorsport show.

It was also his wish that such protocols would be understood and implemented as enablers of the race. 

The Champs Botswana lead consultant said for the race to be held, organizers would first have to write to the director of health services to seek approval because, in his words, ‘we won’t turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to this COVID-19 pandemic.’

He said that writing to the director of health services would not be a move unusual as they wrote to the department of mines following tremors in Selebi Phikwe in 2019 whereupon they received a green light to host the event. 

The authorization also sought to assure revelers and competitors alike of their safety.  

However, Khwarae informed councilors of the impending variations and or changes to the route with a view to rectify some of the concerns raised by competitors.  

According to the lead consultant, competitors had complained about loops that were too technical, lack of variation of terrain which restricted them to driving longer distances without overtaking partly because of too much dust.

The organizers then undertook a survey with a view to addressing the competitors’ concerns part of which was widening the route and identifying riverbed along Motloutse River. The riverbed are reportedly an option to bypass built-up areas such as villages and populated cattle posts.

“Following the diversions from the 2019 route, BTO (Botswana Tourism Organisation) submitted a project brief to DEA (department of Environment Affairs), informing them of the new inclusions, mainly the riverbed of Motloutse River,” Khwarae read from his briefing notes. 

In addition the organizers recommended a route that incorporated the roads along the Botswana Power Corporation electrical servitude ‘as they were wide open enough to allow racing cars to overtake.’

“This was only to happen along the Serule-Phikwe stretch, inside the veterinary fence only,” reads an excerpt from the stakeholder consultations for environmental impact assessment for Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, 2019-2023.

In the report Khwarae justifies that opting for powerlines was a move to avoid areas densely populated with vegetation and paddock ranches. 

However, the newly identified sections required consultations to be carried out prior to the event in fulfillment of the EIA act of 2010, Khwarae explained. 

Also, the developer and partners are expected to inform DEA of ‘any changes to the route and of any discoveries made that may be sensitive to trespass or traverse through.’

Khwarae informed the councilors that it was critical that the race happened with minimum environmental impact yet with increased socio-economic benefits.

In addressing concerns of property along the route, Khwarae explained that owners had been consulted and that the organisers had already undertaken a dry run of the route. Ends