29 Nov 2022

Makgadikgadi Epic has provided economic boost to communities in the Makgadikgadi region through either short-term employment, business opportunities or legacy projects financed through proceeds of the event. 

Answering a question in Parliament, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng, said though the event took place in Sowa Town, benefits were distributed throughout the region. 

“It was estimated that during the 2019 edition of the event, revenue amounting to P2.3 million was accrued to Nata in the form of sales thereby accounting for the highest share of revenue benefits in the Makgadikgadi region. 

The amount of revenue accrued to Nata alone during the epic constituted over a 100 per cent increase in sales compared to a period when there was no epic, she said. 

She said Sowa Town had the second largest share with P671 000 followed by Dukwi with P198 000 while Tutume and Mosetse came third and fourth with P11 800 and P10 100 respectively. 

Acknowledging that Nata was equally worth hosting the event, the minister said the area required a lot of infrastructural development in preparation for the event as evidenced in the previous years. 

Sowa Town, on one hand, had readily available infrastructural facilities such as the tarmac airfield, tarred road as well as conditioned gravel roads, which made it less expensive for staging the event. 

Ms Kereng said extending the duration of the event to at least one week to boost the economy in that area might not be feasible due to resource constraints. 

She, however, said the ministry would continue reviewing the number of days in the future as the event had proven to boost the economy of the area. 

She explained that the Makgadikgadi Epic had a fixed calendar as it took place during the President Holidays but the dates were changed this year due to the effects of COVID-19 restrictions. 

The 2023 event would revert to the President Holidays and will take place from July 14 to 16, she said. 

Member of Parliament for Nata-Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga, had asked the minister to alternate venues for Makgadikgadi Epic between Nata and Sowa Town to avoid conflicts in the constituency as well as to extend the duration of the vent for economic gains. 

He also wanted the minister to consider having a fixed date for hosting the event.  Ends