29 Oct 2026

With their hands firmly on specially adapted bicycles, a group of cyclists with disabilities is turning Botswana’s highways into a platform for inclusion, determination and tourism promotion as they pedal from Gaborone to Kasane.

Their stop by Matsieng Footprints in Rasesa on Saturday was more than a welcome break on a demanding journey. 

It was an opportunity to showcase Kgatleng District’s cultural heritage while demonstrating that disability does not diminish a person’s ability to contribute to society.

The cyclists are participating in the BIDII YETU Inclusive Cycling Tour 2026, a national advocacy and fundraising initiative running from October 24 to November 6 under the theme “Pedaling Beyond Barriers, Celebrating Ability, Inclusion and Community Solidarity.”

Leading the team, Thuso Rasetapa, a wheelchair user following Polio infection, said the tour sought to promote inclusive cycling, showcase the abilities of people with disabilities and raise funds for projects that would improve their lives. 

“Our slogan is ‘power in the hands’. We are using our hands to show that indeed we can do powerful things, even though we are persons with disabilities,” he said. The cyclists use specially adapted handcycles, which enable people who cannot use their lower limbs to propel themselves using their hands. For Rasetapa, the journey is also an opportunity to introduce Botswana’s heritage attractions to a wider audience, particularly sites that may be overlooked by travellers passing through the country. 

At Matsieng Footprints, the team stopped to appreciate a site associated with the history and origins of Batswana, reinforcing the tour’s message that tourism should be accessible and that people with disabilities can actively participate in exploring and promoting the country.

Rasetapa said the cyclists would travel along the A1, A3 and A33 roads, passing through different parts of Botswana and highlighting attractions along the way.

Among the places he identified were the Tropic of Capricorn, where the team was scheduled to camp and a distinctive Mophane tree near Radisele that he believes deserves greater recognition as a heritage attraction as it is the last Mophane tree from the North and the first Mophane tree from the South of the country.

He said the initiative was intended to encourage both local and international audiences to discover Botswana’s cultural and natural heritage.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Ms Neo Sebolao, who joined the cyclists at Rasesa, commended the initiative for combining tourism promotion with disability inclusion. 

She said the journey from the Three Dikgosi Monument in Gaborone to Matsieng Footprints demonstrated how heritage sites could be incorporated into tourism experiences and promoted to wider audiences.

Ms Sebolao urged the team to prioritise their health and safety, particularly given the effects of the sun as they travelled north.

In a gesture of support, she presented the cyclists with 10 sun hats, which she had bought personally to help protect them from the sun.

Meanwhile, Kgatleng District Deputy Commissioner, Phenyo Nthaga said the tour offered the district an opportunity to promote its heritage attractions while creating economic opportunities for local communities. 

Nthaga said the district was hoping to develop the initiative into an annual handcycling challenge, allowing more people to experience its heritage while promoting inclusion.  “The cyclists are showing that Kgatleng is worth a stop, not just a pass,” he said.

He added that the initiative could also create opportunities for people with disabilities to showcase their talents and participate in community tourism.

“This event is both a human rights statement and an economic opportunity for Kgatleng,” Nthaga said. For Letlhogonolo Morwagole, who delivered a message of solidarity on behalf of people with disabilities, the gathering was a reminder that inclusion must go beyond words and translate into everyday actions. He said the cyclists were challenging the negative attitudes that often lead society to underestimate people with disabilities.

  “Inclusive means eating together, travelling together and building together,” he said, calling for a society in which everyone, regardless of ability, belongs.

   The message was echoed by Kelebogile Puontwa, a member of the Botswana team who also participates in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair racing.

   Puontwa said being part of the tour had strengthened her belief in the abilities of people with disabilities and encouraged her to inspire others to embrace their circumstances rather than allow them to limit their aspirations.

   “It has taught me that people living with disabilities have ability and that they should not look down upon themselves, but embrace disability,” she said.

   She expressed confidence that she would complete the journey to Kasane, saying people with disabilities should be encouraged to recognise their potential and strive to achieve their goals.

   Rasetapa said proceeds would go toward constructing a rehabilitation centre in Kasane and developing handcycling through the acquisition of additional handcycles.

   He explained that the proposed centre would serve people across the wider Chobe region, including communities such as Nata, Parakarungu, Satau, Mabele and Kachikau, where access to rehabilitation services can be challenging.

The initiative began in 2023, when the organisers introduced handcycles. 

    In June of that year, they undertook a journey across the Kgalagadi, travelling from Charles Hill to Ramatlabama over approximately 850 kilometers.

   The current tour marks another major undertaking, bringing together approximately 30 participants, including handcyclists from Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, alongside a supporting team from the United States and cycling groups joining along the route.

    The journey is supported by several organisations, including Hosting Solutions, Duma FM, Nashua, Starlink, Paratus, Enka Clothing, Senn Foods and Veggieland, which have contributed through financial assistance, publicity, internet connectivity, clothing and refreshments.

    As the cyclists continue toward their destination, their journey carries a message that extends beyond the road: that people with disabilities deserve equal opportunities to participate in sport, explore their country, contribute to economic development and live with dignity.

   For the cyclists, every kilometre is another opportunity to challenge assumptions and demonstrate that barriers can be overcome. ENDS