14 Apr 2021

The long awaited Chanoga community guest house, which is constructed under Constituency Community Project (CCP) initiative, is reportedly nearing completion.

The P1.3 million project was to be implemented during the 2017/18 financial year, but experienced some delays, despite efforts by the community leadership to engage relevant authorities.

Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi of Chanoga confirmed in an interview that they would finally benefit from the CCP for the first time, as the long awaited guest house was progressing well and nearing completion.

The project, he said, was the first to be implemented in the village since the inception of the CCP and thanked the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for its intervention to speed up project implementation.

He explained that due to the slow implementation, he sought the ministry’s intervention last year and his efforts bore fruit as the project commenced in November of the same year.

Kgosi Setlhodi revealed that currently, the contractor was doing some final touches, revealing that most of the works such as roofing, plastering and electricity connections were complete.

During a recent Maun Administrative Authority special council meeting to review the project memorandum of CCP for the financial year 2021/22, it was reported that the council had requested P400 000 for fittings and fixtures for the ongoing construction of a guest house at Chanoga.

Kgosi Setlhodi appreciated efforts by the council and stated that the community was working on the logistics of proper management of the guest house, as they wanted it to be fully operational, once handed over to the community.

The project, he said, was ideal as it would generate income as well as create sustainable job opportunities for the community. 

“We are grateful that the project will change the landscape of our village and bring better life to the community,” he added.

Kgosi also acknowledged that the facility would attract more customers as it was strategically placed along the Maun/Francistown road and some few kilometres from Thamalakane River.

Meanwhile, Chanoga, which is 40 kilometres from Maun, has become a destination of choice, as every weekend many people flocked to the area for leisure. 

Boat operators have also relocated to the area because of high water levels.

Kgosi Setlhodi once revealed that their intention was to establish a multi-purpose recreational facility as they had noticed that the village had become a centre of attraction for leisure.

The village, he said, had a lot to offer in terms of history, culture and tourism such as the old clinic building along the river banks, which he said was a heritage site. 

He said they intended to open a tourism corner, where tourists could access information about tourism facilities and activities in the village. ends