04 Jul 2024

Government wants to turn Botswana into a destination of choice on the global stage hence the importance of empowering communities to initiate activities that will improve livelihoods of people.

This was said by sport and recreation programme officer from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture, Tshepo Letshwiti at the Tapyowa NG 32 Experience event held at Xaxaba recently.

Letshwiti said the  Tapyowa NG 32 Experience would contribute to government’s Reset Agenda by utilising existing natural resources to generate income for people. 

“It is crucial to acknowledge the urgent need to empower communities. 

Empowerment is at the core of the ministry’s objective and communities also have to play their role in developing products that are attractive to consumers,” he said.

Tapyowa NG 32 Experience is a cultural tourism event initiated by Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) to celebrate the diverse multi-ethnic groups found in the wildlife concession NG 32 area. 

The initiative also aims to promote domestic tourism and enhance cultural tourism in the area.  

Letshwiti said the North West and Okavango areas were engines of tourism activities and having integrated a community based sport and cultural tourism activity was a welcomed development. 

“The mokoro sport as a cultural activity is very unique in this area and can promote spirit of unity in the village. My ministry is committed to providing enabling environment with all relevant stakeholders involved to ensure that activities such as this one become annual, sustainable and are elevated to the level of other sport and cultural activities such as Khawa Dune Challege and Hika La Ngwanyana Cultural Festival,” he added.  

Also, he said the ministry remained committed to improving the sport sector and developing cultural activities as evidenced by past sporting events, to develop and promote sport tourism areas, realise the benefits, prospects and thus encouraged other communities to follow suit.

“It is important to acknowledge the role that sport and cultural tourism could contribute in uplifting the livelihoods of the communities in terms of economic benefits hence the reason the ministry financially assisted the trust to the tune of P115 000 as prize money,” he said.

He assured the event organisers that the ministry would thoroughly assess the event and make evidence based recommendations to the leadership on the possibilities of up scaling, promoting and supporting it in the future. 

Meanwhile, the Mokoro race was categorised into both women’s and men’s 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres.  

In the 800m women’s category, Olopeng Chevu from Boro was crowned champion, walking away with of P2 200 and a medal while Lentletse Tshoganyetso of Ditshiping and Ontebogile Sehunje of Xuoxau settled for positions two and three and were awarded medals and P1 800 and P1 600 respectively.

Gaoidiwe Moagi of Daunara won the male’s 800m category and also walked away with a medal and P2 200 prize money while Ketshepaone Tshwenyego of Boro and Tshameko Polao of Xuoxao finished second and third and walked away with P1 800 and P1 600 respectively.

In the 400m men’s category, Gorata Moagi of Daunara emerged winner and got a medal and P1 900 followed by Duma Moyo of Xauxao and Ditebogo Ogotseng of Ditshiping who pocketed P1 400 and P1 000 respectively. 

Magdeline Nxhereko won the women’s 400m category followed by Amogelang Manga and Tebelelo Oaxhao in positions two and three and also walked away with P1 900, P1 400 and P1 000 respectively. ENDS