26/03/2015
KHAMA HAILS SEBOBA PARK INITIATIVE
Seboba Nature and Recreational Park has been hailed for injecting significant achievements in Kasane. The nature and recreational park empowered communities through employment during construction and operational phases.
Speaking at the official opening of Seboba Nature and Recreational Park on March 24 President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said the project employed 35 Batswana during construction phase and currently had a staff complement of 16 Batswana signifying the employment opportunities aspect of the project. “There is also improved community use of the park through controlled access into the park area, sustainable subsistence fishing and sound environmental practices particularly with respect to waste management,” he noted. He added that the existing wildlife corridors were well maintained through provision of three wildlife entry gates, which allowed wildlife unrestricted access to the river. Seboba, he said has also proven to be economically viable. “During its past eight months in operation, the Park has successfully hosted approximately 45 events in the form of conferences and various other functions,” President Khama said adding that “proceeds from the curio shop sales alone had so far reached P180 000 which bears testimony to its profitability.”
President Khama noted that implementation of the Community Based Natural Resources Management Policy (CBNRM) continued to bear fruit in terms of development projects that were non-wildlife based adding to the diversity of the tourism product. “Seboba nature and recreational park is one such project which was developed with the specific aim to diversify the tourism product offered in the Chobe tourist region,” he said.
President Khama emphasised that community involvement in destination planning and conservation could also enhance the quality of the tourist experience, a vital sign ingredient for successful tourism marketing. “It can contribute significantly to branding Botswana as an ecotourism or ‘green’ destination,” he said adding that this would result in widespread perception of Botswana as an authentic destination that offered tourists value for their money.
Seboba Trust chairperson, Mr Ferney Chibiya, explained that the idea of the project came about after the realisation that access to the riverbank by locals was becoming difficult as most of the land there was privately owned.
Mr Chibiya said they then contacted the district authorities and village elders with a request to develop a park on the piece of land that was available along the river bank. “I am proud to date that we have 16 permanently employed staff members who are mostly young people,” he noted. He also thanked Botswana Tourism Organisation for assisting them and for the benchmarking expeditions to other cultural villages outside the country.
The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Mr Tshekedi Khama thanked the President for his unwavering commitment to conservation and community development which continues to inspire a lot of green operations in the country. “Your optimistic support and leadership in these efforts is encouraging and gives us hope for the future,” he noted.
Minister Khama also thanked the community and leadership of Chobe district for embracing the Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme and support to the development of Seboba Nature & Recreational Park. “I extend special thanks to the Seboba Community Conservation Trust for their commitment and perseverance in ensuring success in the development and operations of this project,” he said. Seboba also offers cultural village experiences, guided and unguided nature walking trails, fishing, picnics and sunset views. (BOPA)
