Ditshiping residents plead for Boko’s attention
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday March 2, 2026 06:00
Ditshiping is a remote village located in the heart of the Okavango Delta, situated within a wildlife management area NG32 but originated from NG28.
Representing the residents, Honey Guide Adventures Trust vice chairperson, Dimbo Boikaego said they wrote a letter to the President on December 1, 2025 and it was received by the Private Secretary to the President on January 8, 2026. He said the villagers were relocated in 1982 to pave way for the expansion of Moremi Game Reserve. In 1993 and 1994, they were informed about the introduction of Community Trusts and its benefits. Boikaego said they are calling for the allocation of concession rights to NG32B.
“The request is founded on principles of equity, legal redress, Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) and sustainable development in line with national land governance and conservative policies. Honey Guide Adventures Trust was the original applicant for NG32 in 1996, however, in 1997, a new entity being Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) was formed and awarded the head lease without the participation and acknowledgement of Ditshiping or Honey Guide Adventures Trust,” he said.
Boikaego explained that when the application for access to the NG32 concession area, Tawana Land Board advised that the application could only be considered if additional villages were included. As a result, the application was broadened to incorporate Boro, Xaraxau, Xuxau, Daunara (NG35) and Xaxaba (NG27B). He said OKMCT was granted the head lease for NG32B and it remains unclear as to whether they applied separately or appropriated the original application initiated by Honey Guide Adventures Trust. Boikaego argued that the inclusion of Ditshiping in OKMCT was done unilaterally, creating years of marginalisation and exclusion from conservation or benefit-sharing initiatives. He stated that after prolonged community grievances, two key legal decisions affirmed Ditshiping’s rightful claim being that Land Tribunal order of December 24, 2014 which instructed Tawana Land Board not to renew OKMCT’s lease until Ditshiping’s application through Honey Guide Adventures Trust was addressed. In September 22, 2023, Honey Guide Adventures Trust wrote a letter (through their attorney, Tshiamo Rantao of Rantao Attorneys) to the District Commissioner, North West District that the Lobatse High Court issued an order in November 29, 2021, in the following terms, amongst others that, ‘Ditshiping membership of OKMCT is terminated. “Our clients have referred to us a letter dated March 20, 2023, where you invite others to a meeting to discuss, inter alia issues relating to OKMCT. We would like to believe that your meeting shall not, in any way, shape or form, undermine issues of OKMCT, including its elections. We advise that any conduct which undermines the court order on your part or anybody else shall cause us to cite others, on behalf of our clients, for contempt of court and possible jail term therefore,” the letter reads in part.
The High Court ordered that OKMCT should render to Ditshiping an amount of all the Trust transactions for a period of five years from January 2016 to date supported by proper vouchers. In September 26, 2025, Office of the Registrar and Master of the High Court wrote a letter to OKMCT, citing the irregular conduct of the board and general manager, Seikaneng Moepedi. The Master of the High Court called up on the trustee to account for the administration and disposal of trust property, as well as providing information connected with the activities of the trust. That the trustees are advised that they must answer honestly and truthfully and to provide all relevant documents, where applicable.
“Please be further advised that a trustee that gives false or misleading information and or fails to comply with a requirement to account for trust administration and disposal of trust property , commits an offense,” the letter reads. The Senior Assistant Master, Laone Letsogile said in the letter to OKMCT that the Master may cause an investigation into the trustees administration and disposal of trust property if deemed necessary, such as where trustees fail to account for their administration of trust property. Letsogile said the Master may make such orders as are necessary to cover the costs of the investigation including requiring the trustees to personally pay for the costs of such investigations. Boikaego said it came a shock to learn that OKMCT is fighting to be granted head lease for NG32, and claiming that they represent Ditshiping which is not right.
“In light of this background and supported by geographical, legal and developmental rationale, Honey Guide Adventures Trust seeks the exclusive allocation of NG32B to develop community-led tourism and conservation initiatives, in line with Botswana’s sustainable development goals and CBNRM framework,” Boikaego said.
He said other communities have been granted concession rights aligned with their geographical location such as Khwai Development Trust with a residential concession of NG19 and concessions of NG18 and NG19, while Chobe Enclave Community Trust which comprises villages such as Mabele, Kavimba,Kachikau, Satau and Parakarungu has been allocated residential concession NG2 and operating in NG1 and NG2 amongst others. Boikaego said Ditshiping is the only village located within NG32, let alone NG32B, making the community the most immediate and natural custodian of the land.
Meanwhile, Boikaego said the inter-ministreal committee that went around the country to hear the grievances of Basarwa amongst others omitted Ditshiping community during a Commission that was setup. He said they wrote a letter to the Director of Town and Country Planning, enquiring about the omission. He said Ditshiping has a population that includes Basarwa but the Commission did not consult them.
Boikaego said the committee did not make a visit to Ditshiping as they had visited villages like Khwai. “We are concerned that the officials sidelined Ditshiping deliberately from the consultation process. This exclusion compound years of marginalisation and must urgently be addressed. Ditshiping meets the criteria of both the Remote Area Dwellers Settlement (RADS) and affirmative action framework, which recognise villages with a population of over 250 people and recommend support for their development. Ditshiping has consistently met this threshold, yet remains neglected by the authorities,” he said in the letter to the director. Boikaego also said Ditshiping was omitted during a CBNRM consultative meeting, which included all the villages within North West Region. He said they wrote a letter to the Department of Wildlife and Natural Resources complaining about the omission on December 12, 2025.
“Our clients are a major stakeholder with reference to the CBRNM Act as a village situated within the NG32 wildlife management area. The exclusion is a longstanding treatment that our clients have been subjected to over the years,” a letter from Carter Attorneys reads in part. Meanwhile, Gonnye Setlhare Pre-School located in Ditshiping has been shut down after the lease that was given to the previous owner lapsed. Boikaego said Honey Guide Adventures Trust now operate the pre-school but it is difficult to acquire the license.
Speaking to Mmegi, North West District Commissioner, Thabang Waloka said the trust should focus on running trust affairs not the settlement affairs. He said the trust dwells on issues that do not involve them.
“Honey Guide is a family affair and self-serving. They are terrorising the residents. I went to Ditshiping in 2023 to go and appreciate what was happening after receiving numerous reports in my office. You will wonder where the trust decisions are made. Some residents were complaining that they have been removed from the trust, and I went there to get to the bottom of the issue,” Waloka said.
He said the community is divided and it is time they introspect on the way forward. He said the trust wants Ditshiping to be removed from OKMCT but the majority of the residents are against the move. He said despite the stand-off, he had requested OKMCT to continue assisting residents who are struggling to make ends meet. “Honey Guide left OKMCT because they felt that they were not benefiting enough. They are operating mekoro (canoes) under OKMCT license. It was better for them to fight while operations continue for the sake of the community. What Honey Guide is doing is wrong,” he said.
Waloka said the trust does not have resources and it will take time for them to be allocated the land (NG32B) that they are fighting for to operate in.
“Many residents always come to my office to complain against the trust. At one point the trust accused me of driving a vehicle bought for me by OKMCT. They just go around tarnishing my good name. It is just a dirty campaign for me to be transferred because I am foiling their bad plans,” Waloka said.
When asked why Ditshiping was excluded during the inter-ministrieal committee on Basarwa and other consultations, Waloka explained that Ditshiping is an ungazetted settlement, and it is not possible for it to be provided with services or developments. He said the situation has nothing to do with politics or that the settlement is even sidelined. He said the settlement falls under Shorobe village, even Ditshiping headman falls under Shorobe chief.
“It is an issue that is being discussed because Ditshiping is a sensitive area when you talk about tourism. We are looking into a concept called conservatory, which is used in other countries like Kenya. The concept will control the growth of the settlement, and we think it can work for Ditshiping. The residents should benefit from tourism in the area,” he said.
Regarding the closer of Gonnye Setlhare Pre-School Waloka said the trust does not want to do things properly and come to an agreement with the license holder, Machaba Safaris. He said for the trust to acquire a license, it will take a long period. He said by the time that process is complete, pupils will not have access to education. He added that the trust must allow smooth hand over for the sake of the pupils. Waloka said they will find a way for the pre-school to start operating.