20 Apr 2026

Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) through one of its investment property asset managers, Messidor Investments, has secured an eco-tourism venture in the NG26 concession management area that falls in the Okavango District.

BPOPF through a company named, Abu Private Reserve in partnership with Singita is constructing a camp in the NG26 which is expected to be completed in December according to Messidor representative, Mr Victor Senye.

Mr Senye said the move was expected to expand and diversify BPOPF portfolio since it was the pension fund’s first opportunity in the eco-tourism industry.

Mr Senye who was speaking in an interview after appraising the Okavango District Development Committee (DDC) about the venture on Wednesday said, the investment property manager whose role was to seek investment opportunities for the pension fund, had so far had a share in the areas of residential, industrial, hotel and hospitality and commercial offices with projects such as Airport Junction Shopping Mall, Hilton Hotel and Botswana Accountancy College offices, all in Gaborone.

“Eco-tourism is an area we have not yet explored hence we are pleased as a major investor like BPOPF to have a footing in the concession and eco-tourism industry,” said Mr Sennye.

He explained that BPOPF was a significant player in the investment landscape of Botswana with impactful ventures that contributed immensely to the economy by undertaking businesses that would bring returns to ensure its members had dignified retirements.

Singita head of conservation community, Ms Inge Kotze, said the company was excited about the partnership with BPOPF, noting that the company had foot prints in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania and Botswana.

Singita generally focuses in early childhood, vocational training, employment and youth empowerment in their areas of operation.

Ms Kotze therefore, said part of their plan was to empower youth in NG26 neighboring villages of Habu and Nokaneng, with scholarships in culinary arts for professional chefs as well as ensure community involvement to appreciate tourism and being alive to issues of human-wildlife conflict.

The company has so far produced 250 globally recognised professional chefs in Southern Africa and job placements through their initiative, Ms Kotze said.

Okavango District council chairperson, Mr Gaopalelwe Ronald, appreciated the company’s pledge towards youth empowerment and appealed to the company to ensure employment creation for local communities and support for the agricultural sector, to help the district council’s efforts in reviving the economy. ENDS