Lebekwe will manage Okavango Wilderness Safaris’ engagement and working relationships between the company and government entities (both state and parastatal), statutory and non-statutory bodies (including environment, tourism, education and technical organisations), communities related to camp operations, as well as community trusts and other related business partners. His engagements will also involve guests, to create an enabling environment for collaboration between visitors, our partner communities and initiatives that benefit those communities.
Before assuming the position of Stakeholder Manager, Lebekwe was the Programme Co-ordinator for Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Botswana, Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit partner focused on environmental education, life skills and leadership development for children and youth in the country. In this role, which he assumed in December 2019, he oversaw the overall administration and programme management of CITW Botswana, including but not limited to programme activities, donor relations and resource mobilisation. Toward the end of 2021, Moalosi briefly held the position of Interim Community Development Manager, coordinating OWS’ corporate social responsibility initiatives and efforts within its partner communities.
As CITW Botswana Programme Co-ordinator, and in his role as Interim Community Development Manager, Lebekwe managed and facilitated a number of OWS’ larger, more impactful community projects, including Okavango Wilderness Safaris’ COVID-19 relief initiative that has seen approximately 224 tonnes of food hampers distributed to over 28 000 vulnerable individuals affected by COVID-19 in Botswana. He was also instrumental in securing a partnership with the US Embassy to execute the Conservation Science Camp for Girls in Rural Areas, an initiative to encourage young schoolgirls in rural areas to develop their interest in environmental conservation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based subjects.
Within his new role, Lebekwe will continue to lead CITW Botswana, having been an essential driver and enabler of progress in this regard. He will also continue to champion the company’s efforts and initiatives around community-based livelihood support, including community farming and small business development initiatives aided and driven by Okavango Wilderness Safaris.
“We are delighted to appoint Moalosi to this role, confident in his experience, expertise and most importantly, his passion for progress. At Okavango Wilderness Safaris, we have a rich history of support, collaboration and partnership with the communities we are directly associated with, as well as a great many others across Botswana. This is so much of who we are, and there are many additional goals we still wish to achieve together with our partners going forward – this is an area Moalosi will play a paramount role in, supported by the wider Okavango Wilderness Safaris team”, noted Okavango Wilderness Safaris MD, Kim Nixon.
Moalosi has a BA Social Sciences degree from the University of Botswana, where he majored in Economics and Accounting. Prior to joining Okavango Wilderness Safaris, he was the Partnerships and Community Manager of Seedspace Yangon, an innovation hub in Myanmar, where he helped set up the initial operations of the hub. He subsequently assumed the position of General Manager of the hub, managing its overall operations, including a co-working space and youth entrepreneurship training programmes. He also has work experience in international development organisations in Turkey, Switzerland and elsewhere in Myanmar, including with UN agencies. Prior to moving abroad, he kickstarted his career at Mazars Botswana, firstly as an Audit Trainee and later as a Junior Account Executive working in Ghanzi.
Okavango Wilderness Safaris is committed to continuing to nurture local talent in the business and growing the depth of skill young Batswana have to offer in the tourism industry – and indeed, beyond. The business is dedicated to creating shared benefits for all in the value chain and the economy at large.
