28 Mar 2023

Mbungu wa Kathimana Society coordinator has emphasised the need for crafts people to have certificates in order to qualify their artistries for competitive selling prices.

Benson Dibebe made the observation at an open day organised by Samochima community in collaboration with Impact Fund recently.

“Having certificates would help market your crafts better and bring confidence to your clients.

A lot of people in our area make appealing crafts which end up laying in their homes with no markets or sold at meagre amount,” Dibebe said.

He added that their plan as a society was to resuscitate an initiative to assist people in crafts to acquire certificates.

“In 2007, we gathered 67 traditional groups and 15 basket weavers who were trained and awarded intermediate certificates through Botswana Qualification Authority at Etsha 6,” he said.

The aim, he said was also to have a cultural centre with the help of Impact Fund and other stakeholders where their crafts would be readily available while Mbungu wa Kathimana would assist with determining prices.

He also indicated that the people of Samochima and Okavango were a diverse group with different cultures, adding however that they should be united regardless of their unique beliefs.

“Culture is their identity and it should be safeguarded and celebrated, but they should take into account that culture is dynamic,” he said.

He added that cultural heritage was used by the former generations and still benefited the current groups.

“The people of Okavango are blessed to have two world heritage sites in their region being Okavango Delta and Tsodilo Hills,” he added.

For his part, Samochima Farmers Committee vice chairperson, Kenosi Sethaba said Samuchima community’s relationship with Impact Fund dated back to 2022 when the non-governmental organisation came on board to sponsor their farmers’ day.

Sethaba said Impact Fund however extended its help to cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Impact Fund cultural lead officer, Ndanji Lesetedi said their organisation was part of Travel Impact, which was established in 2014 to ensure tourists left tangible benefit for communities.

Lesetedi said Impact Fund was then birthed in 2017 to help communities benefit from their environment, particularly crafts. ENDS