21 Jul 2024

Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association on Saturday conducted a clean-up campaign aimed to transform the village into a safe, clean and healthy environment.

The initiative was in collaboration with the police and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) who fielded 280 recruits, farm workers, VDC, Chobe District Council and the community. They traversed the village picking litter. 

The clean-up campaign organiser, Mr Eduard Venter said the campaign was intended to restore Pandamatenga back to its status as the cleanest village in the country. 

Mr Venter said it was critical to raise awareness about proper waste disposal so that residents could make use of the village dumping site. 

He thanked farmers for availing their tractors and trailers and the BDF and police for mobilising staff to ensure the exercise was successful.

He emphasised that Pandamatenga was a special economic zone for agro-industry development and that it encompassed farm land, agricultural supply chains, support infrastructure, storage and processing facilities. 

“We have prominent people visiting our village regularly and we are also a corridor for truckers carrying goods up north,” he said, adding that it prompted them to make Pandamatenga clean.

Chobe District Council environmental technician, Ms Dineo Moilwa said the campaign was in line with the mindset change initiative.

She commended Pandamatenga farmers for taking the lead and driving the clean-up campaign. She noted that a clean environment reduced pollution, protected natural resources and promoted good health for all. 

“Keeping Chobe clean is paramount because we are a tourism hub and a clean environment is one of the factors tourists assess before coming here,” she said. BOPA