As Coronavirus fears squeeze tourism, Botswana safari industry shed jobs

By SOLOMON TJINYEKA

On a normal day, Maun International Airport, a gateway to the iconic Okavango Delta, sees hundreds of passengers, but this has changed in the past few weeks. The airport is almost deserted with only few tourists, suggesting that the Coronavirus known also as Covid-19 may be taking a bite out of the tourism sector.

EXCLUSIVE: Khama’s Mosu built with public funds

by INK Reporters

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) funds, equipment and personnel are being diverted towards constructing and developing President Ian Khama’s private lodge at Mosu, on the southern shore of Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a prime tourism destination.

KHAMAS PARTY AMIDST FINANCIAL RUIN

As the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama and his brother the President Ian Khama enjoyed red carpet treatment at the recent ITB 2017 tourism fest, offices of his ministry went without water and phone connections due to unpaid bills.

Khama’s ESP breaks no new ground

Government plans to create over 27 000 jobs and allocate 34 000 plots as part of its expansionary fiscal Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) in the 2015/16 financial year to revitalise an ailing economy reliant on diamond revenue, a provisional report seen by INK Centre for Investigative Journalism shows.