29 Aug 2021

Full utilisation of Tautona Lodge and farm will enable Botswana to build relevant knowledge and maximise on the economic and environmental opportunities offered by the sand veldt, Minister for Presidential Affairs Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Friday August 27, Mr Morwaeng said explained that the facility would mainly be utilised for training by government departments and serve as a research centre on the sand veldt environment, particularly wildlife, cattle rearing, agriculture, among others.

He said government had a 100 per cent ownership of the property and its acquisition followed procurement procedure as prescribed by the PPADB Regulation 61 which provides for direct appointment.

“The farm was purchased at a total sum of P58.2 million including Value Added Tax, as final settlement amount for procurement and was catered for under National Development Plan 11, thus planned and provided for in the Mid-Term Review 2020/21 -2022/2023,” explained the minister.

He further stated that acquisition of the facility was primarily because of its location, which he said provided vast serviced land and its proximity to important amenities like electricity connection, access road to primary road, water and waste water services including proximity to a hospital and an airport.

Maun West legislator, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister to confirm government’s procurement of Tautona lodge and the rational for purchasing a commercial hotel.

Mr Saleshando also wanted to know why acquisition of the facility was considered a priority under the prevailing economic conditions. ENDS