31 Oct 2023

Accountable officers have been implored to prioritise the implementation of Maun Development Plan (2023-2043) which aims to position Maun as a world class destination with diversified tourism activities.

The plan sets out a spatial vision which outlines development priorities in Maun and how the needs of the residents, investors and visitors would be met in a sustainable manner.

A consultant engaged to develop the plan, Mr Tshepo Sitale, appealed to those accountable during a one day symposium which attracted stakeholders such as Village Development Committee (VDCs) representatives, business community and government departments and non-governmental organizations to appreciate the final draft of the plan and see what they could incorporate.

He said implementation was a challenge and said that failure to implement the 2023-2043 plan whose main purpose was to put developments in an organized manner and stimulate the tourism sector, would be a waste of public funds.

Mr Sitale said the national spatial plan had placed Maun as a level two settlement after Gaborone and Francistown.

“We need to start seeing Maun driving towards a city but without shying away from the community’s lifestyle,” he added.

He said the plan was a spatial interpretation of how the development vision translated into the use of land, resources and sectoral coordination over the plan period through logically sequenced and clear strategies.

Mr Sitale further said no one would be left behind and the aim was to have the 20-year plan finalised in a few months and ready for implementation.

The plan proposes some interventions that would help the area to reach its full potential of development and diversify, and with Maun being a gate way to the Okavango Delta, a strategy is needed to exploit other tourism opportunities such as arts and culture, to attract travellers to stay in Maun before transiting to the delta, Mr Sitale said

During the plan documentation, he said, they also considered socio-economic aspects, housing, local businesses, roads, topography, built up areas and telecommunication among others.

Mr Sitale said that the plan provided a framework that guided the more detailed urban design guidelines and standards for different precincts in Maun.

“We need to improve the urban core and we tried to look into urban agriculture to feed the camps in the delta.

We have retained proposals for the Maun eco-tourism park zone and the one for eco-tourism zone located north of Maun urban edge,” he added.

The North West District Council engaged JS Planning Consultants in 2021 to develop the plan and the Acting Council Secretary, Mr Mosaoko Katorah, appreciated the plan which he said had indicated that Maun would in future be transformed into a world class green city.

Mr Katorah said the plan was prepared in line with Town and Country Planning Act requirements, appreciating that the plan was also responsive to the environment as Maun was naturally characterized by green features and rich ecosystem.

Stakeholders gave the plan the green light and hoped it would be implemented to transform the image of the village and open economic opportunities for the locals. Ends