12 Jul 2021

Xaixai Tlhabologo Community Trust in the Okavango Sub-district is planning to construct a shopping complex in an effort to diversify its cash flow.

The project would comprise a warehouse and general dealer. 

The trust manager, Mr Eric Keharara, said in an interview that their intention was to utilise funds they accumulated from their hunting quota.

The trust, he said, raised P2.3 million from the hunting quota, adding that all the money had been paid into the trust account.  

Mr Keharara said another project on the pipeline was maintenance of airstrip.

He said they had submitted their proposal to the relevant ministry for guidance. 

Mr Keharara also noted that efforts had been made to approach the land board and they had been advised to change use of one of their existing plots.

The shopping complex, he said, was ideal since it would help residents access services closer as they had been forced to travel long distances as far as Gumare and Maun to buy some of the necessities including building material.

Mr Keharara said the trust  had been struggling to generate income because there was no business despite efforts by government and Botswana Tourism Organization to assist with tourism facilities to empower the community trust.

Since imposing of the hunting ban in 2014, the trust shifted to photographic tourism as well as operating camp sites in and around Gcwhihaba National Monument, which aimed at enhancing the diversification of tourism products, but the community had not yet benefitted to the maximum from community based tourism.

However, Mr Keharara noted that campsites were not generating income as expected despite efforts by government to make the place more visible to attract tourists, hence considering to embark on more projects to diversify their cash follow.

He said  initially, the trust survived through hunting quotas as evidenced by the recent bidding and wished the government could continue allocating community trusts hunting quota so that they could accumulate better profits and improve the livelihoods of their communities.

He also pointed out that in order to boost their financial muscles, they were intending to enter into a joint venture and sub-lease the campsite whereby an investor would pay them on monthly basis.

Going forward, Mr Keharara said they intend to intensify their marketing strategy of Gcwhihaba area noting that adequate marketing had resulted to low business. 

The area, he said had a rich cultural history which could attract tourists. ends