Botswana Invests in Water to Transform Agricultural Region

Botswana is betting big on water to unlock one of its most promising agricultural regions and boost food security for years to come.

The government has prioritized the Chobe-Zambezi Water Transfer Scheme as a cornerstone project to transform Pandamatenga into a premier farming hub. The initiative will draw water from the Chobe-Zambezi River basin to irrigate vast agricultural lands that have long waited for reliable water access.

Kagiso Lobeko, Business Development Manager at Water Utilities Corporation, announced at a recent business meeting in Kasane that the project made it into the national budget speech. Out of 186 priority projects identified under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, this water scheme stands out as critical for stimulating economic growth across the Chobe Region.

The project isn't happening in isolation. Multiple government agencies have joined forces to fast-track implementation, including the Water Utilities Corporation, Special Economic Zones Authority, and the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture and Water and Human Settlement.

The Ripple Effect

This investment extends beyond just farming. Agro-processing developments are already being planned around the water infrastructure, meaning new factories and jobs will follow the water.

The region is also getting an energy boost to match its water upgrade. Botswana Power Corporation is extending the national electricity grid to Pandamatenga and Kasane, ending the region's dependence on imported power from Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Kethebe Sethunyane, Strategy and Transformation Manager at Botswana Power Corporation, said the grid extension will power the growing agro-tourism sector alongside agricultural operations. The construction contract has already been awarded, and work will begin soon.

Phase One of the power project, which connected Morupule to Maun and Shakawe, is already complete. Phase Two will bring reliable electricity to the agricultural heartland, creating the foundation for sustainable growth.

Together, these water and energy investments are setting the stage for Pandamatenga to become a food production powerhouse while strengthening Botswana's long-term economic resilience.