18 Sep 2018

Lake Ngami Classic and Fish festival billed for Toteng during the independence holidays is expected to enable many to appreciate the lake and fishing activities.

The event organised by Lake Ngami Conservation Trust in association with Kingfisher Angling Club and supported by the United Nations Development Programme from September 29 to October 1 is expected to benefit communities around Lake Ngami.

Speaking at a press briefing on September 17, Lake Ngami Conservation Trust manager, Galefele Maokeng, said the trust through the Lake Ngami Classic and Fish festival tapped into event tourism, a growing trend countrywide.

Maokeng said other events that attracted multitudes included Maun Mascom Derby, Makgadikgadi Epic and Khawa June Challenge.

He said the three-day Lake Ngami Classic and Fish Festival was a family event which allowed attendants to camp and enjoy themselves.

“The event will give people a chance to enjoy various fish cuisine, witness how to prepare and cook fish as well as other activities such as horse riding,” he said.

The event, expected to benefit the six communities that make up the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust, would allow vendors, corporates and small and medium enterprises to showcase their products and services 

Maokeng noted that the trust was formed in 2013 by residents of Toteng, Sehithwa, Legothwana, Bodibeng, Bothatogo and Kareng to manage natural resources sustainably.

He said Lake Ngami was marred with issues of environmental pollution and illegal fishing at the time but those have been declining since the trust started operating in 2016.

The other role of the conservation trust, he said was for income generating activities. 

He said commercial fishing which was dominant had proved to be a challenge and not a reliable revenue source hence the trust had to find alternative ways.

Some of the projects the trust is involved in include building a safari camp site, charcoal production project, the Lake Ngami Classic and Fish Festival and has acquired a boat.

Kingfishers Angling Club representative, Bob Hirschfield said the association promoted recreational fishing known as ‘catch and release’.

Hirschfield said the intention is to show the diversity of Lake Ngami in products offering apart from supporting agriculture.

He noted that recreational fishing was more sustainable compared to commercial fishing, with an arrangement that fishers were allowed to catch five fish per day.

Hirschfield said the conservation Trust should introduce a levy for boats to raise funds something that the recreational fishers would be incepting during the Lake Ngami Classic and Fish festival. ENDS