24 Nov 2014

Low exploitation of tourism sector in Kgalagadi
 District has negatively affected the development of the area.

Speaking during district development plan 8 (DDP8)/national development plan 11(NDP11) 
community consultation meeting in Ngwatle, the principal
 economist, Mr Realeboga Setlhoka said wildlife management area (WMA) covered majority of Kgalagadi land and as such residents should come up with incisive
 projects and initiatives on the upcoming DDP8/NDP11 on how to convert Kgalagadi
 into a tourism centre.

He said tourism 
is one sector that has proved to be bearing fruit when it comes to employment
 creation and development hence it can immensely address issue of high 
unemployment rate that has blanketed Kgalagadi residents across all ages. 

He indicated that Maun is one leading example that tourism could contribute
towards human development.

Mr Setlhoka
said other crucial segment that resident can look into is transport as it can 
assist to lure in more direct investors that can help in community improvement.
  He noted that availability of transport including airlines can also lead to
influx of tourist.

Mr Setlhoka 
further challenged residents of Kgalagadi to come up with projects that will
better address intensely alive poor education results that has covered their
area. He said even though education results are poor country wide, Kgalagadi region
is among the leading poor performers in the country.

He however
sighted that the district had planned to undertake some projects during
DDP7/NDP10 plan period, but could not be captured due to the economic recession
which occurred at the beginning of the plan period.

He said as a
result, government opted to implement only ongoing and emergency projects and
priority was given to socio economic development initiative including among
others poverty eradication and construction of destitute houses.

Mr Setlhoka stated 
that government has come up with four ways in which DDP8/NDP11 will tackle 
issues in the coming plan, saying the projects and programmes will be categorised 
into economic and employment, social improvement, sustainable environment and government 
safety and security. ENDS