Member of Parliament for Okavango East, Gabatsholwe Disho has urged the minister of environment and tourism Wynter Mmolotsi to come up with urgent interventions to address concerns over water shortages for wildlife and inaccessibility in Botswana’s protected areas.
Disho asked whether the ministry would consider drilling boreholes in Deception Valley (Central Kalahari Game Reserve) where animals travel long distances for water. He further asked if the ministry has plans to gravel the road from Matswere, Tsau, and New Xade gates for improved accessibility and also whether additional boreholes would be drilled in Makgadikgadi to support large migrating wildlife populations, including 50,000 zebras and elephants.
In response, Mmolotsi acknowledged the challenge of water availability, particularly since the influx of elephants in 2016. He admitted that while the Central Kalahari Game Reserve currently has seven strategically positioned boreholes, increasing wildlife population has put pressure on the existing water sources.
To mitigate this, Mmolotsi revealed that the government is considering drilling two additional boreholes along the Passarge Valley, which would help alleviate water scarcity, particularly during peak dry seasons. However, he emphasised that many species in the reserve are naturally adapted to desert conditions and do not rely heavily on water.
On the issue of road infrastructure, the minister firmly stated that there are no plans to gravel the road between Matswere, Tsau, and New Xade gates. He justified this by pointing to Botswana’s low-impact tourism model, which prioritises a pristine wilderness experience over infrastructure development.
According to the minister, gravel roads could lead to over-speeding and increased human activity, potentially disturbing wildlife and altering the park’s ecological balance. The government believes that maintaining unpaved roads is a key distinction that sets Botswana’s conservation model apart from neighboring countries.
In response to concerns about water shortages in Makgadikgadi, Mmolotsi revealed that the Nxai Pan-Makgadikgadi Pans National Park already has 15 operational boreholes, with an additional 14 maintained by private tourism operators. He however noted that most of these boreholes are concentrated along the Boteti River, where migratory zebras and other wildlife naturally gather.
While two additional boreholes are planned for Nxai Pan and two more for central Makgadikgadi, the minister noted that zebras’ migration patterns are driven by forage quality rather than just water availability.
He explained that the animals travel from Chobe to Boteti despite available water sources along the way, meaning that additional boreholes may not necessarily change their movement patterns.
The parliamentary discussion highlighted Botswana’s ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife conservation with development needs. While there is a growing demand for infrastructure and water sources, the government remains committed to preserving natural ecosystems and promoting sustainable tourism.
As climate change and wildlife population growth continue to impact conservation efforts, it remains to be seen how Botswana will adapt its policies to ensure both human access and animal survival in its iconic national parks.
