Minister Mmolotsi Strengthens Collaboration with Community-Based Organisations

Minister Mmolotsi Strengthens Collaboration with Community-Based OOrganisations. The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Honourable Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, has engaged with Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in a meet-and-greet session aimed at reinforcing collaborative relations between the Ministry and community structures.

The engagement provided a platform to highlight shared priorities around sustainable development, community empowerment, and the creation of stronger partnership frameworks. Minister Mmolotsi emphasized the critical role of CBOs as stakeholders in Botswana’s tourism value chain, noting that their involvement is essential in ensuring inclusive growth and resilience within the sector.

Accompanying the Minister were Ms Abigail Khumoyame, Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr Motswagole, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Board Member, and Mr Justice Ofentse, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BTO. Their presence underscored the Ministry’s commitment to building institutional support for community-driven initiatives.

The session highlighted the importance of aligning national tourism strategies with grassroots efforts, ensuring that communities benefit directly from tourism development. By fostering collaboration, the Ministry aims to strengthen local participation, enhance sustainability, and create opportunities that contribute to both livelihoods and conservation.

Minister Mmolotsi reiterated that partnerships with CBOs are vital for advancing Botswana’s tourism ambitions, particularly in diversifying experiences and embedding cultural and community perspectives into the tourism offering. The dialogue also reinforced the need for continuous engagement to address challenges and unlock opportunities within the sector.

This initiative reflects the Ministry’s broader vision of positioning tourism as a driver of inclusive economic transformation, while ensuring that communities remain central to its growth.