TRUSTS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Residents of villages in Boteti West Constituency have been encouraged to form trusts. The call was made by the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng during a kgotla meeting addressed by His Honour the Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane in Xere yesterday. Minister Kereng said trusts are crucial to the development of the communities. She said her ministry through the revised Tourism Policy aims to take tourism to all areas of the country. The minister said the aim is to get a large number of Batswana participating and benefitting from a growing tourism industry. She explained that the emphasis is on facilitating Batswana to explore their own country to diversify and broaden tourism base by adding new products. The Minister said this can easily be achieved through trusts. She said since Boteti is a gateway to the Delta, residents should come up with projects to attract tourists to their area before they proceed to Okavango. Minister Kereng commended Xere Conservation Trust for their initiative of constructing a Cultural Centre in the village. The Trust’s Chairman, Mr Tshiamo Nkalapi said construction of the centre is on-going. Tshiamo said the aim is to showcase their culture to tourists and other Batswana.