19 Mar 2026

The new institutional office building and the Government Fleet Management (GFM) workshop in Kasane, which are both catalytic to attracting investment to Kasane, have officially been opened.

The two facilities were constructed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism following the relocation of facilities that were located along the main road at the Chobe River front to pave way for the Kasane-Kazungula redevelopment project.

Government departments that will be housed in the new triple-storey building are the Department of Information Services, Department of Gender Affairs, Department of Civil and National Registration, Department of Immigration, Department of Water and Sanitation, Department of Tourism and the Department of Labour and Social Security.

Officially handing over the facilities to user ministries on Tuesday, Minister of Environment and Tourism Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the facilities were not just a place of work but a new chapter in Botswana’s tourism story.

He said the objectives of the redevelopment project were to promote citizen economic empowerment, thereby enhancing conservation, preservation and promotion of the area’s natural and cultural heritage while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Moreover, he stated that the project was conceived in order to improve the environment and infrastructure to make it attractive as a place to visit, live and do business in.

“The towns of Kasane and Kazungula occupy a key strategic position in northern Botswana, at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers where they are the main gateway into Botswana for the high spending foreign visitor market.”

Mr Mmolotsi said the construction of the office building was awarded to Landmark Projects (Pty) Ltd at a cost of P93 million, with construction having commenced in August 2023 and the project reaching completion stage in December.

He said construction of the GFM workshop and fuel station was awarded to Trust Construction (Pty) Ltd at a cost of P73 million, explaining that the projected had commenced in August 2023 and was completed in November.

The minister implored those who would occupy the two facilities to serve Batswana with dignity, efficiency and pride for generations, a dedication and resilience that he said would play a critical role in propelling the economy forward.

Accepting the GFM workshop facility, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae said the workshop was built to be the backbone of transport services, which he described as a force that carried government services to communities on a daily basis.

“When a vehicle is well-maintained, a nurse reaches a clinic on time, an officer responds quickly to community needs, and development reaches places that might otherwise be left behind. Therefore, this facility represents more than infrastructure; it represents reliability, readiness, and responsibility.”

Mr Salakae said the redevelopment project was a vision for a thriving tourism hub, new opportunities for citizens, and a future where development and sustainability moved forward together.

In his acceptance speech, secretary for public administration Mr Richard Molosiwa said the office building stood as proof of what could be achieved when government ministries worked together.

Mr Molosiwa said the infrastructure served as an inspiration for the occupants to serve Batswana diligently and with pride in the services they rendered.

He thanked the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, technical teams and experts who designed and constructed the offices that elevated the status of Kasane.

MP for Chobe Mr Simasiku Mapulanga said the two facilities were a dream fulfilled because Chobe deserved facilities that matched its tourism brand.

“Chobe transformation has begun with this state-of-art and aesthetically pleasing facilities and we need to further leverage on our strategic location at a quad point because it one of a kind.”

He advised that planners and architects should take advantage of the beautiful aerial views of Chobe when they design building in future and make multi-storey buildings for breathtaking views. ENDS