02 Mar 2023

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will resuscitate and facilitate the

Makgadikgadi Wetlands Management Committee to commence its activities during the 2023/2024 financial year.

This was said by Minister Philda Kereng in response to a question in Parliament on Wednesday.

Ms Kereng said implementation of the Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan (MFMP) of 2010 was a continuous process through different government departments and stakeholders.

She said a significant part of the plan, which was developed through participatory process involving all stakeholders including the 32 villages within the Makgadikgadi catchment area, had been on identifying opportunities for local communities to utilise natural resources to improve their livelihoods.

To that effect, she said the ministry worked with communities to mobilise resources for projects, which included, developing the Makgadikgadi heritage trail map to enhance the tourism potential of the area as well as gazetting the Flamingo breeding site in the southern Sua Pan.

Also, she said the Gwezotshaa Community Trust of Gweta, Zoroga and Tsokatshaa was funded for P970 000 through the National Environmental Fund to develop its campsite on the boundaries of the Makgadikgadi Nxai Pan National Park.

Ms Kereng, however, acknowledged that the ministry’s programmes, especially those that involved congregation of people, were derailed by COVID-19 and the Makgadikgadi Wetlands Management Committee was equally affected.

As such, she told Parliament that the ministry would, during the Transitional National Development Plan, review the Makgadikgadi Wetlands Plan to align it with the Reset and Transformation Agenda.

“This will also enable us to identify opportunities for sustainable utilisation of the wetland system.

It is our hope that the plan will provide strategic guidance in improving people’s livelihoods through the rich natural resources in the area,” she said.

Member of Parliament for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister if she was aware of the MFMP and its importance to the villages around the Makgadikgadi as well as the committee that was formed on behalf of the 32 villages.

He further wanted to know when the minister intended to resuscitate the committee, now that COVID-19 is over, and also progress made on the implementation of the plan thus far. ENDS