MPs wary of Khama�s tourism interests
Gothataone Moeng | Tuesday April 8, 2014 12:11
The caves are a national monument and a tourist attraction. Questions over the President’s interests in tourism flared up several years ago when he was linked to a listed multi-million Pula group with assets across the tourism heartland in north-western Botswana.
There were more queries yesterday when Kgatleng West Member of Parliament, Gilbert Mangole, asked a question that seemed to leave Tshekedi Khama uncomfortable.
He asked whether the President’s “occasional leisure expeditions” together with his entourage had an impact on the caves’ preservation.
In January, President Khama spent three days at the caves, which state media reported was to gauge their tourism potential. “His Excellency the President of Botswana’s visits are not leisure as he has been involved in cave exploration and fostering collaboration between museum professionals and international experts,” the tourism minister told Parliament.
However, MPs were clearly unsatisfied with the response, demanding to know what role the President is playing in exploration.
“What is his role in the exploration of the caves? Is he a qualified person?” asked Gaborone Central MP, Dumelang Saleshando, to which Tshekedi responded: “That is a subjective question. I am not sure if the Honourable MP is qualified to be an MP”. However, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Margaret Nasha, ordered Tshekedi to answer the question. He responded that the role of the President was to “develop the interest”.
He said the President has been instrumental in obtaining grants and assistance from the private sector through the publicity he gives the caves.
“This has assisted Botswana in developing and investigating the area faster than would have been possible as government funding is limited,” he said.
President Khama has wide-ranging interests in tourism, with reported equity interests in Wilderness Safaris, and also as a board member of Conservation International.
As a national monument, Gcwihaba Caves is a public area with controlled access as per guidelines stipulated in the Gcwihaba Caves Management Plan, for preserving the site itself and material on site.