Francistown city to open Educational Park

Residents of Francistown will finally benefit from a fully developed and well-maintained game park that is expected to unlock economic opportunities for various stakeholders while generating much-needed revenue.Once fully operational, the Francistown Educational Park is expected to become one of the city’s key landmarks, forming part of its tourism attraction zones under the city tourism concept.The initiative is aligned with government efforts to strengthen tourism, currently the second-largest driver of economic growth after diamonds and a sector that employs close to 58,000 people. Government, however, maintains that diversification within tourism is necessary to significantly increase employment opportunities.Hope for Francistown has been reignited through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, which has recognised the need to revive the 1,000-hectare Francistown Educational Park and restore it to its original purpose as a wildlife reserve serving both tourism and educational functions similar to the Gaborone Game Reserve and Mmokolodi Nature Reserve.Despite having been properly equipped, the Francistown Educational Park was abandoned in 2014, a situation that exposed it to vandalism and poaching as some members of the community sought to fend for themselves.The neglect of the park dealt a heavy blow to greater Francistown, which had already suffered losses following government acquisition of adjacent land previously earmarked for private use to accommodate residential expansion.However, the Ministry has now moved decisively to resuscitate the park, with plans to transform it into an attractive income-generating facility for a wide range of stakeholders.Speaking to Botswana Guardian in an interview, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, said preparations were at an advanced stage, with the first batch of animals scheduled for translocation into the park this weekend.“The animals, totalling 20 and comprising five each of zebras, elands, antelopes and ostriches, have been sourced from different parts of the country and will be translocated to the Francistown Educational Park this weekend,” said Mmolotsi.He added that once the park is fully functional, the government intends to invite the private sector to enter into partnerships aimed at enhancing the park’s appeal to both local and international visitors. These partnerships, he said, would include the establishment of coffee shops, restaurants, event spaces, outlets trading in traditional and other cuisines, as well as curio and artefact shops.In line with broader efforts to reposition Francistown as a tourism destination, Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe is expected to officially launch the Francistown City Tourism Initiative on January 24.The initiative seeks to showcase the city’s unique blend of heritage, culture and scenic appeal. President Advocate Duma Boko is also scheduled to attend and officially open the Tourism Pitso slated for January 22.If properly packaged, Francistown’s story has the potential to resonate with audiences far beyond Botswana’s borders. The city boasts a rich historical tapestry from the iconic Nkhwa Interchange, popularly known as the Spaghetti Junction, linking routes to Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to its origins as a gold-mining town with several buildings sitting atop defunct mines.Francistown is also home to some of the country’s oldest trading enterprises, including the Haskins, and once hosted Wenela, a major international mining labour recruitment company for South African mines. The city further prides itself on its football heritage, with clubs such as TAFIC FC and TAFA FC, both established before independence.Other notable landmarks include the historic Mophane Club, the Jubilee Hospital, the Tati River, and the famous White House in the Blue Town suburb, which once hosted political leaders involved in liberation struggles across the region. Together, these assets underscore Francistown’s untapped potential as a compelling tourism destination.

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Francistown city to open Educational Park