When the 595km road was completed in April 1998, it was left unfenced, primarily to accommodate wildlife's natural migratory routes. Whether those routes have changed since its opening, is one of the questions to be answered by the study.
Of late however, apparently there has been mounting pressure from road users over the prevalence of wildlife and domesticated animals on the highway.
Thomas Moilwa, the principal roads engineer (forward planning division) tacitly confirmed that the TKH "has been a very sensitive issue - both locally and regionally".
Moilwa explained that in essence the TKH also falls under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) corridor framework, which is part of the coast-to-coast regional project that is from Maputo in Mozambique in the East to Walvis Bay in the West. The Maputo-Walvis Bay Economic Corridor straddles four countries - Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Moilwa noted that Botswana, as a SADC member, has signed various protocols relating to transport, tourism environment and land management.
"Botswana must be seen to be working towards achieving the objectives of those protocols, he said.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of road users in relation to wildlife and domestic livestock, said Moilwa. The TKH is the largest road project ever undertaken in Botswana and one of the largest to be undertaken in the SADC region. The highway is increasingly becoming the preferred link between the Gauteng region of South Africa and Namibia.
He, however, maintained that a feasibility study could reveal whether the project is feasible due to particular factors. The objectives of the project as outlined in the terms or reference are:
l To undertake environmental and social studies sufficiently addressing prevailing impacts;
l To identify and evaluate environmental and social effects which will be caused by the proposed fencing of the TKH;
l To identify and describe procedures and activities that will mitigate adverse impacts and enhance beneficial effects; and
l To liaise with Department of Environmental Affairs, National Museum and Art Gallery, Department of Mines, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, District Officers, Department of Town and Regional Planning, village development committees (VDCs) and all other organisations that represent interest groups within the proposed road corridor in order to seek their views, and any other issues related to the fencing of the road.
Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS) chief executive officer Felix Monggae noted that "we will be following the project. We will be ready to contribute where necessary."
