15 Aug 2016

The Maun community has started to prepare to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Pula and Thebe festival billed for Thari-E-Ntsho cultural village at Disana ward in Maun.
The event, organised by Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers, is celebrated on August 23 every year.
This year, the organisers took a collaborative approach with BOT50 and Maun centennial organisers to ensure success of the event.
Thari E Ntsho Storytellers continues its strides to celebrate the day with the community for the third consecutive year. The aim of the event is to commemorate the inauguration of Botswana currency, Pula and Thebe which was introduced in 1976.
A press release from the coordinator of the event, Bontekanye Botumile states that about 300 people are expected to grace the exciting occasion.
She said commemorating the 40^th anniversary would pave way for the commemoration of the 50^th independence. The event coincides with the commemoration of 101 anniversary of Maun as the capital of Ngamiland district since 1915.
Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers has also forged other collaborations with Maun Education Centre, various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government departments.
There would be a number of activities to be performed during the event such as A ‘Guardians of Nature-Badisa ba Tlholego’ craft and performance competition amongst Environmental Clubs in primary, secondary and tertiary schools.
 About one hundred students are to participate in a craft and performance competition which would end with a prize giving. The competition encourages children to see litter as free raw material that can be re-used for income generation, recreation and other benefits while simultaneously cleaning up the environment. The competition fosters awareness, appreciation and understanding of Botswana’s environment amongst children.
A workshop for farmers, artists, unemployed youth and community members themed “Pula gateways to a green economy through agricultural and eco- tourism is also in the line-up of the activities.
The statement indicates that the workshop will be an integral grass root effort to source holistic solutions to unemployment, poverty levels, human/wildlife conflicts, environmental degradation and unsustainable land use in the district.
The release further states that’s in light of the current challenges such Foot and Mouth disease, hunting ban, closure of the copper mine and fishing ban, there is urgent need to stimulate the economy by establishing new industries and create income generation projects. Various departments have been invited to discuss the lasting solutions to the said challenges. ENDS