Africa-Press – Botswana. Despite efforts by North West district leadership to intervene, members of Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) are mulling a peaceful demonstration against the hosting of the third edition of the Tapyowa NG 32 Experience initiative billed for Saturday at Xaxaba in the Okavango Delta.
Organised by OKMCT, the annual initiative is a cultural tourism aimed to celebrate the diverse multi-ethnic groups found in NG 32 concession. The event brings together communities from villages affiliating to the trust to participate in mokoro race and it is also characterised by activities such as storytelling, cultural activities and games among others.
The concerned group call for cancellation of the event this year saying it did not benefit the large community from all villages affiliated to the trust. They threatened to protest in a peaceful demonstration if the trust proceeded with the event.
In an interview, vice chairperson of the concerned group, Mr Tlotlo Baganeletso said following an arbitration meeting by North West district commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka on Tuesday at Botswana Wildlife Training Institute to address burning issues between the trust and concerned group.
He said the meeting was convened after they wrote to the district commissioner’s office demanding explanation on the said initiative and its significance as well as demanding the board of trustees to account for the event stating that they had noted that a significant amount of money was spent in organising and hosting the cultural tourism event.
The concerned group also wanted to know who approved the budget for such activity since the annual general meeting had not been convened. community could approve the budget and they also pleaded appraisal on actual amount to be spent on the event. They also argued that the trust was complaining about insufficient budget, which resulted in some projects suspended for the current financial year and questioned where the money for event would be sourced.
“I do appreciated efforts by the district commissioner to convene the meeting but we are not convinced with the advice and if the trust proceed with the event, we will do all in our power to distract it because it does not generate revenue for the trust and it uses a lot from our coffers,” he added.
While he appreciated the significance purpose of the activity, Mr Waloka advised board of trustees to prioritise the interests of the community noting that they should revisit the issues at hand.
“I am not taking decision for the board, but I can advise them to consider proceeding with the event provided they have sponsors but if it is digging a lot of money from the trust coffers, then it should stop. As the trust, you should put your priorities right and ensure provision of potable water first,” he added.
Although, Mr Waloka appreciated that the event attracted a lot of attention from both locally and internationally adding that it also has the potential to diversify the tourism product through cultural and sport tourism and provide the travellers with a variety of experience.
He wished the trust could design attractive initiative in a manner that it could generates more income to diversify the trust’s revenue streams. However, he urged the community to work as a unit noting that they should appreciate that government had granted them NG32 to operate tourism activities and reap benefits.
As such, he said they could achieve that through teamwork and cooperation. He also vowed to consult communities from all the six villages affiliated to the trust to appreciate the cause of the division within the trust and address the standoff amicably. On the other hand, the trust leadership maintained that Tapoywa event would proceed as planned.
Ms Boitumelo Samoxhosa said preparations were on track as the community approved the event during the recent kgotla meetings. She argued that only the community could cancel the event not a concerned group adding that the event would have been held in June but delayed due to some cases before the court.
The trust general manager, Mr Seikaneng Moepedi also concurred that they would continue with the event saying thy had secured funds from some of their partners. The trust, he said has some joint venture partnerships with several companies that conduct photographic tourism in the area.
Source: DAILYNEWS
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