25 Apr 2022

Botswana’s premier travel destination yesterday opened its doors to hundreds of guests, as they arrived here for the second leg of the first ever Forbes Under30 Africa Summit, which gets underway tomorrow. 

In typical Botswana welcome, the community here has been working round the clock, to ensure all logistics are in place. Chobe wanted the guests to have the best of their experience, said District Commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa in an interview. 

“The multi-sectoral Local Organising Committee undertook a cleaning exercise around the township with help from the community, government departments and social clubs,” she said. 

She added that some volounteers also cleaned the road from the airport into Kazungula. 

The council had also attended to all major roads, removing obstacles and patching potholes, she said. 

To ensure the guests had each a souvenir to take back home, and that small businesses made the most of the opportunity, the district had arranged for a pop-up market at the township centre tomorrow. 

A local company, Beyond Targets had offered to display at the market, products from youth and poverty eradication beneficiaries free of charge, she said. 

The district would want the guests to have a truly memorable mixing of business with adventure and had to that end ensured there was adequate transport within the township and into Chobe National Park, for game drives. 

“We have identified and mobilised 33 safari vehicles, and talked to the taxi association, who have assured us that they are ready,” said Ms Makgosa. 

Botswana Tourism Organisation had also identified boats and mobilised operators to be on the ready for river excursions, she said. 

Ms Makgosa expressed appreciation over Kasane’s selection as co-host of the event as that presented an opportunity for Chobe District to market itself to the world. 

“While delegates will be here on business, we believe they will develop an interest in coming back as tourists,” she said, adding the hope was that the enthusiasm from the conference would rub off onto small businesses in the area. 

“This also presents an opportunity for our young people here to learn from the world’s top young entrepreners, to share contacts, to network and gain knowledge to grow their businesses,” she said. 

She added everything would be done with the strictest adherence to COVID-19 protocols. 

As can be expected, the police are well prepared to deal with any mischief. 

“We are ready,” said Superintended James Maabong of Kasane Police. 

That readiness includes a notable increase of patrols in the township, to ensure the safety of the guests, who number just over 600. 

The summit, which started    in Gaborone on Sunday ends here Thursday. ENDS