MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Chairpersons Association says that the region has all the potential and features needed to create wealth and opportunities for a prosperous life for all its inhabitants and children.

One of the aims of the CA, a non-political organization, is to ensure that opportunities are created for all residents of the region in order to create wealth for all.

“The Limpopo Province has all the people, materials, mines and minerals, tourism and economic potential and other features needed to create wealth. All the components of success are already here and these components only have to be co-ordinated,” the chairman of the CA, Mr André Naudé, said when delivering his report at the CA’s annual general meeting on July 22.

After the report, the mayor of Makhado Municipality arrived from a strategic planning conference at Dongola. The mayor, Cllr Rhulani Nkuzana, said that the Makhado Municipality was rated the best in terms of tourist attractions. He referred to the successful Kremetart Cycle Race which attracted 13 000 tourists.

“The potential is there, but are we exploiting the opportunities?” Cllr Nkuzana asked. He disclosed that a high-powered delegation from Kuwait will visit the municipality on July 30 and indicated that he would welcome input. Mr Leon Klaff, a member of the CA, suggested that businessmen and relevant forums could be invited to help secure possible investments.

The CA report also stated that tourists and investors should be satisfied that their investments and visits to this region would be safe. Tourists and investors should experience that they receive the best value for money and the most valued experience.

Each organization should become the most excellent organization of its kind in the country.

“We already have the best nine-hole golf course in the country,” said Mr Naudé. During the Hanglip 54, players and their families were attracted to the region. It promoted the region as a tourist destination.

Mr Naudé said that he envisions that chiefs should be involved in order to create wealth on a basis of integrity and good corporate governance. The public and private sector should portray a positive and excellent image of the region, as nobody wants to visit or invest in a company or within a region or a country with a negative image.

“Look for instance at Zimbabwe, where most of the hotels at Victoria Falls have closed down, while there are huge developments on the other side of the river in Zambia,” said Mr Naudé.

Potential investors and tourists should not be misled; therefore, all systems, organizations and the public sector should justify this image.