Youths cry foul as debate rages over Chobe River lodges

The youths recently wrote a complaint to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, adding their voices to a heated matter already pitting ecologists against land authorities. Plans by the environment and tourism ministry to open up 240,000sqm of land at the Chobe River front for eight new lodges, stoked sharp debate in Parliament this week, with deputy speaker, Pono Moatlhodi intervening to end discussions.

According to the Expression of Interest document floated for the new lodges, applicants must be 100% citizen-owned companies and consortiums. Companies should have tourism licences that have been in existence for at least the past two years and for consortiums, at least one of their companies should have a tourism licence that has been in existence for two years or more.