07 Jan 2020

The story of Lepokole Nature Reserve is a tale akin a hidden treasure classic tales. It is a story that lives in the heads of those actively involved with the project. It is a story hardly told.

The nature reserve conceived by Mapanda Conservation Trust and Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) was hatched in ‘uncharted territory’ by the community to chiefly create employment for people of Lepokole to escape the yoke of poverty and hunger.

Actually, information from BTO public relations office in response to questionnaire sent to them, set out that ‘Mapanda Conservation Trust is one of the adopted trusts that BTO undertook to work with.’

“Following a board resolution by the then Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) in 2008, and the subsequent signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the BTB and the Mapanda Conservation Trust, both Parties rolled out the process of further engagement with additional stakeholders, in view to develop a successful Tourism project for the Lepokole Community, and anchored around the Lepokole Hills archaeological sites,” reads part of the response.

Additionally, ‘the collaboration would ensure amongst other things, involvement of local communities in tourism businesses, employment creation and economic beneficiation as well as conservation and preservation of natural resources within the community of Lepokole.

Lepokole lies 35kmnorth west of Bobonong

One has to weave past sparsely populated hills that boast colossal rocks. The hills paint an incredible environment to an otherwise lazy locality.

The hills, like many at various places bore ancient stories of harboring huge snakes that sends fear among those who care to lend some ear to the unsubstantiated tales.

These hills are a feature that adds into a breathtaking landscape on the way to the sleepy Lepokole. Paradoxically, sleepy and action-starved as the locale is, it has given birth to a nature reserve which, despite challenges, is a beacon to tourists.

All things equal, the nature reserve should be a beacon not only to villagers, but to the nation and indeed the world. Paradoxically, a place endowed with harbouring a scenic view that should beckon tourism business ventures, the idea of a blossoming nature reserve has found habitat only in the minds of the few who have grown accustomed to the project.

Worryingly, for some committee members, the project seems to transcend grasp and imagination of many community members who should be igniting engine to set the project on momentous speed towards realization of the fruits initially intended.

Even though there are some in the committee, at least by claims of chairman and treasurer, who harbor and actually drive a burning desire to turn the nature reserve into a beacon in the tourism industry, there are those who deserted their posts in the committee and are untraceable.

The disappearance without notice, though understandable, has amputated the committee from holding meetings since they do not form a quorum, the chairman Mr Potso Dipuo has claimed.

Mr Dipuo, who took BOPA news team through the nature reserve for appreciation and first hand feel that the nature reserve boast over 500 wild animals in an over 1 401 hectares of land.

Also, the nature reserve houses five campsites, waterhole, two solar-powered boreholes. However, Mr Dipuo opined that underground water was dwindling.

A sneak peek into the reserve confirms an inventory of some complaints by the chairman and his treasurer which are also confirmed by BTO.

To Messers Dipuo and Nakdimang Shaka (the treasurer) the project is yet to reach an apex of a fully-fledged nature reserve the community deserves. However, they believe there’s need to transmute their energies into action to nurture a renowned reserve.

The claim of insufficient underground water was cleared by BTO following accusations from Mapanda Conservation Trust board members who claimed that a sum in the region of P43 000 was spent to pay for payment of a consignment of three 5000litre tanks of water for use in the reserve.

BTO, though they do not deny or confirming the figure, clears that due to occasional mechanical and technical faults that the boreholes suffer, and partial drying up of the boreholes owing to the persistent drought that affected water supply, water had to be sourced to ensure the animals survive.

“This could not be done using water from the Lepokole village, as this posed a risk of the village now running out of water for human consumption,” reads part of the response from BTO.

However, a tour of the nature reserve revealed that some campsites were dysfunctional with tents fallen. Mr Dipuo and his treasurer Mr Shaka allege the state of affairs to shortage of staff, a responsibility that lies with BTO.

The BTO concedes to shortage of staff, but clears that the vacant posts ‘can only be filled once the Project starts generating enough money to sustain operational expenses.’

In fact, the treasurer believes the trust should approach water affairs department to negotiate acquisition of some of their unused boreholes in proximity of the nature reserve and reticulate water instead of coughing thousands of Pula for water ferried from Francistown.

Though in operation, the nature reserve is not wildly marketed. The site attracts a few tourists. However, the place comes alive on holidays. Mr Shaka says there was need to increase a number of services in the site.

He believes a swimming pool for tourists and some conference facility would be great additions. The two facilities would attract tourists to the site, according to him.

For ease of movement to the park, the treasurer proposes construction of a bridge over Mosu River which puts the nature reserve and the village on either side of it. Depending on the strength of the flow, the river can put stoppage to some visitations to the park until it dries.

However, BTO public relations unit states that with the project being tested on uncharted territory, there were always going to be some challenges impeding the achievement of the initial objectives.

Further BTO states that, “The implementation process required a fluid and adaptive approach to ensuring that some of the obstacles are managed.

Thus, all stakeholders are and continue to be involved in the decision making processes to date.”

A response from BTO further states that a business case review was carried out in March 2019 as a testament of stakeholder involvement.

It was done so that there is revision of the current business model to determine the status of Lepokole Nature Reserve as a business enterprise, and what needs to happen in order to improve and enhance its performance.

However, BTO notes that funding to undertake envisaged improvements still remains a challenge.

Unperturbed, the committee will soldier on. However, ever since taking over from the previous board, the current lot has nothing to show for their time in office, at least the chairman concedes.

Mr Dipuo says they could source funds from Birds Botswana in the region of millions to help with construction of office space, but without a functional committee the efforts will remain rooted until members started showing up to scheduled meetings.

In fact, he makes a clarion call for action and even moots seeking intervention of the village kgosi and morafe on the best way forward. Ends