UB Team Visits Manyana Village for Stakeholder Engagement
A University of Botswana (UB) team on recently met with stakeholders from Manyana village for a Stakeholder Engagement Meeting. This collaborative effort, spearheaded by Manyana Community Development Trust (MACODET), Moshupa-Manyana Sub Land Board, and the Ministry of Lands Management, Water, and Sanitation Services, sought to provide expert advice and promote synergy among the involved parties.
The UB team offered expert guidance on optimising land use for sustainable development and safeguarding cultural heritage sites amidst socio-economic growth. In addition, they advocated for land reservation to preserve heritage sites, fostering tourism opportunities within the village. The UB team comprised United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair holder, Dr Susan Keitumetse and Director Legal Services, Mr Benbella Rwelengera.
The purpose of the meeting was to make consultation and give a briefing on sites allocated for residential plot and socio-economic development in the village by Land Board and the Ministry. To affirm the proposed physical plan of the Ministry if it is in accordance with the plan proposed by the village leaders intending to transform Manyana into a model of a smart village.
In addition, University of Botswana Faculty of Engineering and Technology students were also engaged in the village to assist in developing community project such as construction of Community Bridge.
UB partnership with Manyana community leadership is a sequel to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the University of Botswana signed with Manyana Community Development Trust (MACODET) in September 2021. The University undertook to assist the Trust realise its dream of turning Manyana Village into a model of smart village and derive economic benefit from these sites.
UB and MACODET's partnership which also includes the University of Toronto in Canada, aims to promote global partnerships towards establishing a sustainable community driven inclusive economic growth in collaboration with government and other development partners.