30 Mar 2026

With its unmatched geographical location and seamless cross-border connectivity, Chobe District stands as Southern Africa’s premier tourism and agronomy hub, creating a powerful platform for regional trade and world-class travel.

Delivering a keynote address at the Chobe Connect investor conference in Kasane on Monday, Vice President Mr Ndaba Gaolathe stated that Chobe was positioned to house a multi-country tourism and logistics hub due to its seamless connection with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe at a unique quadripoint. He said the theme:Driving Botswana’s Economic Transformation Through Agribusiness, Tourism, Energy and Infrastructure Development,” was fitting for Chobe as a premier destination for sustainable agro- industrial and tourism investment in Southern Africa.He remarked that the Kazungula-Kasane corridor was hailed as the preferred high efficiency trade route for the SADC region, driving economic growth.

He underscored that the region was poised for significant economic transformation driven by infrastructure, agri-business and tourism.

Mr Gaolathe described Special Economic Zones as a cornerstone of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) to unlock optimum economic growth through targeted industrialisation.

Mr Gaolathe said government, through BETP, focused on transitioning Pandamatenga from being a primary grain production hub into becoming a high-value agro-industrial and agro processing and packaging centre.

This overarching initiative, he said is aimed to drive economic growth and sustain livelihoods beyond Chobe localities by stimulating value chains.

He said Chobe’s endowment with natural resources had sparked discussions amongst investors, industry leaders and financiers at the Chobe Connect 2026 to unlock the district’s potential and align its development vision with potential execution.

“We must transition from policy frameworks to productive outcomes in transforming the Chobe region and we remain committed to actively shaping the economy through multi industrial approaches.”

Mr Gaolathe indicated that Pandamatenga as an arable agriculture hub was characterised by a blend of commercial and subsistence farming with a total of 96 000 hectares, of which 40 000 hectares was currently under production.

The VP said the Chobe-Zambezi Water Transfer Scheme was earmarked to transform Pandamatenga into a regional agricultural powerhouse by providing consistent water supply for irrigation to ensure year-round production.

Chobe constituency MP Mr Simasiku Mapulanga advocated for several key development initiatives aimed at diversifying the regional economy.

These initiatives, he said, included the need to transition to solar energy to leverage the Chobe’s abundant sunlight and reduce pressure and dependence on BPC grid.

Mr Mapulanga supported the cable car initiative within the BETP as a futuristic masterpiece poised to modernise Chobe.

Moreover, he emphasised the importance of establishing truck ports in Kazungula to streamline transport logistics and capitalise on the corridor’s strategic traffic.

Kasane court president Kgosi Patrick Morwaga abuse highlighted Chobe’s immense potential as a premier tourist destination, noting the diverse array of excursions available to captivate visitors.

Kgosi Morwagaabuse invited Chobe Connect 2026 delegates to explore Chobe region and visit all villages from Parakarungu to Pandamatenga to explore investment opportunities. END