11 May 2016

Khawa, a little known village not so long ago, is a story of perseverance.

The 75km gravel road that links either Khuis or Gakhibana to the village provides two sharp opposites. For the residents, the road feels like a disaster waiting to happen.   

Some residents are normally spotted on transit behind trucks with handkerchiefs tied over their noses to protect their eyes from the dust filled air.

The trees and grass by the roadside also produce a melancholic look from the dust that fluff over especially for first time visitors which probably explains why no cattle post is next to the road.

But for the young at heart who usually do not enjoy life without a taste of death, the bumpy road which can literally make even the bravest of hearts skip driving at normal speed, is a byword for adventure.

Upon arrival, the dust now grows into a tower like wall called sand dune around the village. The sand dune wall seems to stand sentinel over the small Kgalagadi village as if to keep it safe from the ravages of the world outside, coming with the holidaymakers.

Although deliberately dotted along the seemingly barren Kalahari sand dunes, the name Khawa itself represents life, morning dew.

Legend has it that the place where the village now sits used to have a small  well, where wild animals, used to come for water. And hunters would also naturally gravitate to the spot hoping for a kill.

Over time, the well has dried up and lost the will to live but there still exist now a wide open pit to show for what remained of it.

   Kgosi Piet Manyoro shared that the place was discovered by the Manyoro, Osononeng and Kopore families fascinated by the life giving water source and the abundance of wildlife.

However, when government banned consumptive tourism in 2012 the walls in their infinite wisdom, like deft salesmen, made a business pitch to the outside world.

Still pure like a girl in her first flush of youth, the sand dunes offered to provide an alternative source of income for the residents whose livelihoods had from time immemorial revolved around hunting.

In 2009 the walls,caught President Lieut Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s eye who came up with the annual dune challenge and cultural festival to take up where the life giving well had left off.

The event has so far also seen houses being donated to some needy residents through the Presidential Housing Appeal initiative. Both the VDC and Kopanelo Community Development Trust have since the inception of the initiative also benefited financially.

The dune challenge has now restored Khawa’s inherent superiority and largesse as an oasis in the desert over neighbours and beyond.

Ms Nonofo Setlhogile, a youth entrepreneur from Lokgwabe drove across the Kgalagadi desert to join multitudes who also came to drink from this calabash that provided instant business.

The Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary was sub contracted to provide food catering services to some campers. She said she started last year with only two departments but this time around catered for five which she described as a shot in the arm for her business.

Nono as she is best known promised to come back bigger and better next year with a mobile kitchen, toilets and showers to serve her customers.

A resident Ms Christinah Titus was meanwhile happy that the event puts the village on the spotlight and affords residents a rare opportunity to interact with President Khama.

 However, she was worried that the event for some has become another reason to abuse alcohol. ENDS