Desert Race dumps Jwaneng
MOTORSPORTThe wildly popular 1000km Toyota Desert Race (TDR) might be heading to the mining town of Selibe Phikwe. This week a savingram from the Jwaneng Deputy District Commissioner’s office informed the mining town authorities that the popular off-road racing spectacles was moving to another location.
The mining town has enjoyed the economic benefits of the race for over five years. This week speculation has been rife that the race will be moving to another mining town being Selibe Phikwe. According to the savingram the Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) has taken a decision to finally move the annual Toyota 1000 Desert from Jwaneng, and the new hosts will be announced in the near future.
According to a savingram dated 01 November 2018 forwarded to officials of the Jwaneng Town Council (Town Clerk, Tribal Secretary, Court President & HODs) from the Deputy District Commissioner Lesang Kgosietsile revealed that the BTO has taken a decision to move on from Jwaneng.
“You are by this communiqué officially informed that the Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) has made a decision to relocate the 1000 Toyota Desert Race from Jwaneng to a new location to be announced. You have been a great strategic partner in hosting this event and we wish to convey our sincere appreciation for the great job done.
Let me take this opportunity to profoundly thank you for your dedication and support during the five (5) years that you successfully hosted this event,” the savingram reads. Recent allegations are that Selibe Phikwe Diversification Unit (SPEDU) have recently expressed interest in the race as they believe it would revive the ailing economy of the once thriving mining town.