25 Oct 2016

Hardly a week after securing sponsorship from the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, through the National Environment Fund (NEF), the Gumare- based Zoba Style Community Trust is working round the clock to embark on a road show to promote conservation in Okavango district.

The trust came up with a project dubbed “My Delta my treasure” and it was sponsored to the tune of P247 490.

The group which specialises in performing arts, life skills and theatre intends embarking on a road show campaign in 20 villages in the district.In an interview,  a group member, Lucky David said their project ‘My Delta my treasure’ is a four months old outreach project which would be implemented in phases.

He said it has two components, the first being to disseminate information through theatre as they want the communities to be proud of the Okavango Delta hence the need to protect it.

David said they also aimed at maintaining the natural look of the heritage site to ensure sustainability. The show, he added would spread messages on anti-pollution, issues of wet management and conservation of natural resources.

“We want the community to preserve the natural beauty of the Okavango Delta which contributes significantly to the local and the country’s economy through tourism. So, we want nature to flow in its original form,” he added.

The second component is ‘the pledge a tree campaign’, where a tree will be planted in every village that the group will stage in to leave a legacy. He said they would distribute 100 trees with a tag written ‘DEA’.

He also explained that their shows would be interactive noting that in some villages, they would spend the whole day with villagers doing some activities together, which include nature walk to the river to appreciate its beauty and engagement with leaders on conservation issues to ensure sustainability of the project.

Asked why the came up with the project, he said they have realised that the communities rely much on the natural resources to make ends meet and they wanted them to use them wisely without any destruction.

The show will be launched in mid-November in Gumare and the Okavango communities have been asked to extend a warm welcome to the group. The group intends to roll out the campaign to schools. ENDS