06 Apr 2025

Within a thorny landscape and dense greenery lies the Dikgatlhong Dam, a vast reservoir that symbolises hope and opportunity for the community of Robelela . 

However, government continues to commit to promoting sustainable tourism for economic diversification and job creation and therefore Robelela residents should take advantage of the dispensation.

Located 40 kilometers North East of Selibe Phikwe, the village holds significant tourism potential given the completion of Dikgatlhong Dam in December 2011, that has a holding capacity of 400 000 000 cubic metres of water at optimum level, thus attracting an array of wildlife species.

The nation’s largest artificial reservoir, covering more than 400 square kilometers, was built at the tune of P1.2 billion to reticulate water to the eastern corridor; specifically through the North-South Carrier scheme (NSC-2), with a pipeline terminating in Palapye and planned extensions to Gaborone to address water supply challenges.  

While the dam plays a crucial role in water supply, flood management and fosters biodiversity in the village and other areas in the vicinity, for residents, the vast body of water is more than just a reservoir as it creates a beautiful scenery complementing the village’s iconic landscape.

With the landscape that meets the serene and shimmering waters of Dikgatlhong dam, the community envisions the dam as a potential cornerstone for a sustainable and prosperous tourism destination that presents an opportunity for economic revitalisation and job creation in the village.

The Dikgatlhong dam is more than just a feat of engineering but has also become a sanctuary for an array of wildlife species, the convergence of these offers a glimpse of the country’s biodiversity featuring birds, antelopes, and elephants roaming near the edges of the dam.

Kgosi Mosetsana Lekang of Robelela told BOPA that the village offers a warm welcome steeped in tradition and culture presenting opportunities in cultural tourism, there are also several archaeological sites which the traditional leader, believes can also be a feast to the eyes.

“We have a lot of untapped opportunities here to turn the village into a tourism destination area. This can provide sustainable income for the community, ensuring that tourism benefits all of us,” Kgosi Lekang said.

She shared that efforts to capitalise on this burgeoning tourism potential have not borne any fruits so far despite the community’s zeal to make use of the opportunities.

Furthermore, Kgosi Lekang said efforts by the community were always thwarted by lack of experts to provide professional guidance on projects, adding the poor condition of the road that connects the village with Selibe Phikwe was not helping the situation.

“Our 40-kilometer road stretch from and to Selibe Phikwe was a daunting and perilous expedition rather than simple to commute. With this pothole-riddled road, it is an uphill battle for one to rush out of the village due to lack of reliable transport. This seems to be killing so many dreams of most people here,” she said.

Another resident at Robelela, Mr Kelethabo Kgotso, also shared his frustrations about the Robelela-Selibe Phikwe road that had squandered a lot of viable opportunities.

He said that although the road could be a doorway to promising tourism and other entrepreneurial dreams, the road’s abandonment has become a bottleneck to economic survival in the village.

“We spend long hours waiting at the bus stop to commute to Selibe-Phikwe. By the time we reach the offices to seek help, it is often late, and we find ourselves hurriedly trying to return before sunset,” he said.

 Despite all these challenges, the community remains hopeful that one day, through the government, investors would show interest and bring solutions that would benefit them all.

The Chairperson of Bobirwa District Council, Mr Johannes Gaosikelwe, acknowledged that some villages in the Bobirwa district had the potential of being trailblazers in tourism.

He said the topography of such areas were exceptionally beautiful and abound with wildlife, adding they were also rich in cultural activities.

“The stunning dams in the area, such as Thune and Letsibogo, offer great potential for water-based tourism activities, eco-tourism, and outdoor recreation,” said Mr Gaosikilwe.

Therefore, he said the council and relevant stakeholders would work collectively and tirelessly to make efforts to develop villages that fall under Bobirwa district’s jurisdiction into tourism destination of choice.   

In addition, he said that would benefit local communities and preserve the environment for continuous contribution to the district’s economic growth.

Regarding road networks, Mr Gaosikelwe also acknowledged that some roads were in bad state, and had negatively impacted on service delivery and economic activities.

He spoke of the need to invest in the rehabilitation and maintenance of some roads to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

“We strive to prioritise on enhanced connectivity among villages for improved service provision and support economic growth; we are aware that well maintained and improved road infrastructure were the backbone of progress,” he said. ENDS