19 Jun 2015

One of the organizers of Gantsi Meat Fest,  Greg Losibe says it is disturbing that some local promoters are busy copying other people’s original concepts and trying to implement them in some areas of Botswana without first trying to understand them.

Briefing the press recently, he said it was worrying that people do not look at the environment they are in and celebrate what they have in abundance but rather poach other people’s ideas and spoil the whole purpose of the idea. 

“I mean what is wrong with celebrating things that are in abundance in your own area instead of copying what other people are doing and in turn not do them right,” he said.

He indicated that the Gantsi Meat Fest is a brand that was started not with the sole objective of making money, but rather to celebrate Gantsi meat, promote farming as a profession and brand the area as the meat hub of Botswana.

“Gantsi Meat Fest is not a commercial quick buck scheme and we take what we do very seriously. When we started we drew up a ten year strategy and that is what guides us,” he said.

He said the event will be on its third year running and will be held on July 11 and it is divided into two sessions. “The first session will start off at 11am with cultural activities and at 2pm till 7pm we will have disc jockeys (Djs) and from 7pm till the following day we will have artists performing,” he said.

Losibe indicated that the morning session is dubbed Badisa competitions and these competitions involve skills that are normally practiced at the farms. 

“Skinning (go buwa), dislocation of joints (go lokolola), scrubbing of hooves (go karapa) and cooking seswaa,” he said, adding that this year they have also added other two activities; traditional fire making and target shooting.

He said the whole idea behind the competitions is to eventually have them registered as sport codes. 

Losibe said the competitions have over time proved to be the favorite amongst the local community. Speaking on the main event, he said it will give revelers the taste of Gantsi meat as the region has unique recipes and meat processing methods.

 Losibe indicated that the ticket for the event is P150 and people will not be buying meat when they get inside. “The only thing people will pay for is phaletshe and drinks,” he said, indicating that the meat will be in braai, biltong, pounded dry meat, seswaa, boervors, fried meat and stew.

He said meat lovers will have the chance to eat meat from over ten types of animals amongst them beef, goat, sheep, springbok, wildebeest, pork, antelope and gemsbok and all. 

The different meats will be prepared in two or more dishes. “People should bring their camp chairs and they will eat as much meat as they want.’’ 

Re tla a Bo re Shaba nama ka phaletshe,” said Losibe. Speaking on accommodation in Gantsi, Losibe said they can help people find accommodation only if they buy tickets. 

He indicated that the venue for the meat fest has moved closer to Muller’s farm and people should come as early as Friday so that they can sort things out on time.

Losibe further said his team intends to share the proceeds of this annual event with the community by buying toys and games for boarding primary school children in Kuke, Dekar, New Xade and Xanagas through the Save-A-Child initiative. ENDS