Thato Moseki
15 October 2009
The Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) hopes to secure P13 million for the development of preliminary works in support of tourism activities around Letsibogo Dam in Mmadinare.
The preliminary works consist of infrastructure such as roads, water and sewerage services that will provide an enabling environment for the entry of private sector capital and subsequent development of various tourism activities at Letsibogo Dam.SPEDU is hoping to access the necessary funding from the Re-Employment Account (REA), which is a pool of funds made up of repayments of loans to BCL Mine and Tati Nickel from the European Union via the Government of Botswana. In recent years, BCL Mine and Tati Nickel Mine have benefited from European Union funds that government on-lent to them at concessionary rates with generous grace periods. Interest and capital from these loans were then deposited into the REA and demarcated for use to support the economic diversification of Selebi-Phikwe.
Funds from the REA have already been used for the construction of factory shells in Selebi-Phikwe and the construction of a water pipeline at Tati Nickel's Phoenix Mine.SPEDU tacticians recently submitted an application for P13 million to REA for the development of primary infrastructure around Letsibogo Dam in support of tourism activities there. A further P28 million will be required for small project funding related to the tourism projects.Last week, SPEDU official Theodore Seemule, told Mmegi that the development of tourism activities around Letsibogo Dam were part of a slew of initiatives in line with the diversification of Selebi-Phikwe's economy. He revealed that Letsibogo Dam tourism opportunities were identified by a 2006 study on 'Phikwe's diversification.
The study was undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning with funding from the European Union."There were recommendations on tourism, including a corridor for historical, archaeological and landscape features as well as development of Letsibogo's tourism potential, Seemule said. "The proposed funding for this project means that we need preliminary works of about P13 million, and we have submitted a request for this to REA. We are also looking at P28 million for small project funding."
According to SPEDU, the potential for tourism and leisure development at Letsibogo Dam includes activities and facilities such as a sailing club, a day visitor centre and zone, wildlife conservation, a rest camp, a lodge, camping areas, boat links and barge trips.
Local entrepreneurs could tap into opportunities such as operating refreshment or souvenir sales activities and guide services.Other tourism opportunities at Letsibogo involve adventure activities such as water skiing and fishing."The development and promotion of water-based activities at Letsibogo would both attract tourists and enhance the amenities of Selebi-Phikwe, at the same time helping to promote its image," reads the 2006 report. Promotion could be linked to other tourism facilities in the wider area."
Another EU-sponsored study on Letsibogo Dam's biological and chemical composition has shown that the dam has above standard hygiene and health properties, supporting a diversity of plant and marine life. The dam has no acidity whatsoever and its water properties are of a high quality. Experts involved in the study said the dam's good state would also lend itself well to water-based tourism activities.Several consultants are engaged in a study around the establishment of a tigerfish population in Letsibogo Dam, mainly for recreational fishing purposes. Tigerfish are among the most preferred targets for anglers and attract high interest from local, regional and international anglers.
Thus far, a large number of tigerfish sourced from South Africa have been released into Letsibogo Dam and are being closely monitored by researchers. A tigerfish competition has been planned for South Africa on Saturday where researchers from Botswana hope to assess the potential socio-economic value of similar events at Letsibogo Dam.
Gordon O'Brien, one of the researchers involved in the project, said tigerfish presented huge opportunities for tourism activities at Letsibogo. "Tourism opportunities could arise from the successful management of tigerfish which are the number one fish for anglers in Africa," O'Brien said. "This could be an opportunity for the tourism industry around Letsibogo."The development of tourism activities at Letsibogo Dam will require planning consent from Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and the Department of Town and Regional Planning as well as cooperation from other ministries and regulators on issues such as licensing, access to credit and registration of tourist facilities. Previous attempts by WUC to develop leisure and tourism at Gaborone Dam failed after the Department of Town and Regional Planning expressed concerns over the environmental impact of these.
However, SPEDU hopes to convince WUC and other regulators that Letsibogo Dam's environment and use as a potable drinking water source will not be negatively affected by the development of tourism and leisure activities.
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