15 May 2023

In a bid to invest in property, Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) has proposed the construction of a shopping complex opposite the trust offices at Boronyane ward in Maun.

The trust manager, Mr Seikaneng Moepedi revealed during an annual general meeting at Xharaxao kgotla, noting that the proposed project would provide shopping centre and a filling station space.

The trust, he said, acquired a plot for the envisaged project last year, adding that the filling station would be ideal as it would be the only one to service residents and tourists transiting to Okavango Delta.

“We are happy to announce that we managed to transfer the plot to the trust and currently awaiting to compile the Environmental Management Plan,” he added.

Mr Moepedi also noted that the drawings and business plan for the project had been completed and they would use them to request funding from financial institutions.

The trust, he said, aimed to invest in big projects that could stimulate job creation and eventually contribute to the local economy. 

Mr Moepedi explained that the trust called for proposals for the Youth Development Fund initiative last year in which 103 youths collected application forms, but only 33 submitted applications.

Currently, he said the applications were under the assessment process led by Save Wildlife Fund in collaboration with the trust. He also indicated that the youth committee had requested the trust to consider recruiting a youth officer who would focus on youth affairs.

The committee, he said, also requested for training of young people on entrepreneurship skills before they could respond to a call for proposal.

Mr Moepedi further noted that the trust had managed to house some elderly persons through its housing policy in all the five villages affiliated to the trust. The trust operates in Boro, Xharaxao, Daunara, Xuoxao and Xaxaba and the gathering learnt that phase three of the old age housing was being implemented after a two-year COVID hiatus.

The trust operates in NG32 concession located south of Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. The manager also decried the mushrooming of farms within the concession, which he said were likely to affect the value of tourism.

Efforts, he said, were underway to investigate with the land authority to get to the bottom of the matter.

The trust chairperson, Mr Galetsose Manga told the gathering that they had been granted a new head lease for concession NG32 by Tawana Land Board, which would run for the next 15 years.

The lease, he said, was approved in February and he appreciated that it would enable the trust to carry out more tourism activities within the area to benefit the community.

He also informed the gathering that the review of NG32 management plan was ongoing as a consultant had been engaged to undertake the exercise.

Mr Manga also revealed that the trust managed to undertake some developments despite some challenging circumstances, citing community water reticulation and old age housing.

The trust, he said, had a joint venture partnerships with several safari companies to undertake photographic tourism in their concession. In addition, he said the trust successfully operated the mokoro excursion project, where tourists entered the concession gate at a fees. ENDs