04 Sep 2022

Residents of Makobo, Jamataka and Natale (MAJANA) villages have been commended for reviving the spirit of self-reliance through their initiative of inter-cultural games.

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Philda Kereng commended them during the official opening of the 2022 MAJANA intercultural games at Mphane river valley, two kilometres south of Jamataka on Saturday.

Minister Kereng said it was pleasing to see residents coming together to form a project without the help of government.

She said the intercultural games were in line with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s  Reset Agenda .

The minister stated that the games fostered diversity and inclusion and presented an opportunity for individuals to learn other people’s cultures.

Kereng said there was more that the games could offer as they played a critical role in the creation of employment and economic diversification through tourism, which was the new engine of economic growth.

Such initiatives, the minister said were a welcome development because the government faced many challenges, mainly lack of employment especially for the youth.

She explained that though COVID-19 disrupted everything and affected the industry badly, tourism had the potential to grow the economy.  She said often times, many people associated tourism with the Okavango Delta and Kasane area, when in fact, the sector was everywhere in the country and could be utilised by anyone.

Furthermore, Ms Kereng stated that apart from creating employment and helping to grow the economy, intercultural games promoted good health and living during this era of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as high blood pressure and heart attack.

The minister explained that there was no doubt that other surrounding villages would soon benchmark and emulate the three villages initiative to grow their local economies by improving and supporting the tourism sector.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Mosalagae Galebonwe of Jamataka said the purpose of the games was to share intercultural experiences through games as well as to create employment for the residents of the three villages.

However, Kgosi Galebonwe appealed to government to take full ownership of the event grounds by developing them and using it for other activities in future.

He however decried acute shortage of drinking water, which was hampering development in his village as well as lack of internet connectivity in some institutions in the village. The internet helps with facts and figures, information and knowledge for personal, social and economic development, he said.

The annual games, which are in their second year running after the first ones held in Natale last year, feature both indigenous and modern games such as donkey carts race, horse and donkey race, bicycle race for both men and women, tug of war, whipping rope (seme), Nxaii as well as river sports games, amongst others.

Under the horse race, the men category Jamataka scooped positions one, two and three. Ookeditse Nthule got position one, followed by Kemo Mafibini whilst Khumoetsile Kebadire settled for the third position.

Ookeditse attracted many spectators demonstrating his ability and talent for riding horses without saddles or straps, defeating his rival Kemo who seemed to have been the only one who gave him a close challenge.

The donkey race was scooped by Keteng Molelowakgotla of Jamataka whilst Pedzani Tsenang of Makobo came second.

Under the women bicycle race of ages 18-39, Wazha Baathodi of Jamataka got position one, followed by Reginah Moffat of Makobo.

Still under the bicycle race (men), ages 18-39, Keteng won again by scooping position one, with Innocent Maka of Makobo coming second whilst Onkamile Baathodi of Jamataka came third.

The donkey carts race saw Phenyo Buyane of Jamataka getting position one, followed by Mosiiwa Lobasi of Makobo whilst Mooketsi Babe came third.

The games, themed: Tjinyunyi babili nkomba woga tjo wuluka, a Kalanga proverb and meaning, to get a bag full of locust, people have to cooperate, will be held in Makobo next year.  ENDS