- – Proposal to declare Maun a Green Town to be tabled before Cabinet before the end of September 2026.
The process of upgrading Maun into a Green City/Town is currently at an advanced stage with consultations having been completed with all ministries and government departments.
This was revealed by the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa when updating parliament on the progress made in the project. He indicated that the proposal to declare Maun a Green Town is expected to be tabled before Cabinet for consideration and decision before the end of September 2026.
The ministry commenced the process of upgrading Maun into a Green City/Town through engagements with district leadership and consultations with the community. “This is work in progress and requires extensive consultation with stakeholders to ensure that the transition is properly coordinated and results in a practical and workable framework,” he stated.
Motshegwa explained that once approved, the declaration will facilitate the definition of township boundary and urban edge as well as the preparation of a Green Town Spatial Development Plan. He further indicated that the plan will provide a framework for managing the town’s urbanisation and industrialisation, while creating opportunities for investment and development by both local and external investors.
“It is important to emphasise that, without approval of the proposal, the matter cannot be addressed holistically, as the development of the requisite planning framework is dependent on the formal recognition of Maun’s Green Town status,” said the minister. He added, “the ongoing exercise will also provide recommendations on the appropriate model for upgrading Maun, including consideration of the recommendations of National Spatial Plan 2036 (NSP 2026) and adopt Green City development principles, taking into account the town’s unique ecological attributes.”
Motshegwa explained that this approach is intended to provide a coordinated framework that will guide the sustainable development of Maun. He added the approach will also support orderly urbanisation and industrialisation and ultimately create an enabling environment for investment and broader economic opportunities for the people of Maun and Botswana as a whole.
The National Spatial Plan 2036 (NSP 2036) has recommended that Maun adopt Green City Development Principles, given its distinct ecological features. Maun’s transitioning into Botswana’s first green and smart city under NSP 2036, moves beyond its traditional role as a transit gateway to the Okavango Delta. The recommendations also include declaring Maun a Green City with a defined boundary and autonomous Town Council, elevating Sehithwa to District Headquarters, and designating Shorobe as a Service Centre.
Motshegwa has previously stated that the current level of infrastructure development in Maun qualified it to be a city as per the Botswana National Spatial Plan (NSP) 2036 and owing to its unique ecological attributes. He said the Maun Development Plan 2023-2043, which was aligned to the NSP 2036, would promote and capitalise on the local tourism potential and called for a deliberate intention to plan and govern it as a full tourism destination.
Motshegwa said the spatial plans emphasised on the uniqueness of Maun and assigned it to high level of national urban status in the form of a tourism city as opposed to the current city model of Gaborone and Francistown. He further said the National Spatial Plan envisioned Maun as the capital of the western part of the country as it was strategically located to form part of the green preserve and serve as a basis for thriving sustainable world class tourism-based economy.
