20 Mar 2022

 After years of severe water shortage in Shokomoka settlement, Wilderness Safaris in collaboration with its partners, the German Trade partners and Orezone Drilling Company have drilled a borehole for the residents

Shokomoka, a settlement within Shorobe catchment area has been drinking unclean and unsafe water from Thamalakane River.

Speaking during the project handover, Wilderness Safaris managing director, Mr Kim Nixon said having operated in Botswana for 40 years, the company had the interests of the people at heart.

He said the company enjoyed a great relationship with the community and had engaged in a number of activities whose aim was to improve lives.

Mr Nixon cited the period of movement restriction due to COVID-19 pandemic when the company aided families with food hampers.

He said their presence had not only been felt during trying times but also in good times as in previous years they had helped families of Sankoyo, Shorobe, Shokomokwa and Matsaudi among others.Mr Nixon stated that they got to learn about water shortage challenges during their interaction with village leaders who indicated that water shortage and hunger remained a challenge in Shokomokwa settlement. Subsequently they contacted some of their partners to join forces and assist.

He appreciated that their German friend, Ms Karin Frohlich and her trade partners came on board to raise over P300 000 for the company to assist the communities.

He said Ms Frohlich also managed to raise money for drilling and equipping the borehole.

Mr Nixon also recognised efforts by Orezone Drilling Company, especially assistance from Mr Chris Laider who availed transport for material used in the project.

“I appreciate efforts made by our partners, for making it easy for us to achieve our mandate. We believe our partnership will prosper so that we continue making a huge difference in the lives of our communities,” stated Mr Nixon.

For her part, Ms Frohlich, an employee of Wilderness Safaris based in Germany said she visited Botswana and fell in love with the country and its nature.

She said she was warmly welcomed in Botswana, which caused her to fall in love with the country. That, she said,  motivated her to help.

“In 2019 when the pandemic started, I was worried about how communities would survive because most earned a living through tourism activities. I had to do something to give back so, I mobilised some of my friends and managed to raise funds to make life easier for them.

I am humbled today to see the results of my efforts,” Ms Frohlich said and urged the beneficiaries to look after the borehole so that it benefitted generations to come.

Shokomokwa action group chairperson, Ms Selelo Manga thanked Wilderness Safaris for the gesture.

She appealed to the company to erect an electrified fence in the area around the borehole, to enable the committee to start a vegetable garden that would help them generate income towards developing the settlement.

Area councillor, Mr Oabile Chombo sad the borehole was a great relief as the government was unable to supply settlements with potable water in accordance to Rural Settlement Policy.

He said two boreholes were supposed to be drilled in the area through the Constituency Community Programme but the projects had not materialised. ENDS