20 Oct 2022

 Preparations are underway for The Simmon Phuthego Organization’s  inaugural The KAZA Co-existence Charity Bushwalk to be held in Maun before the end of year.

The initiative, whose primary objective is to raise funds for the Monnawatsheko family, who are the victims of human-wildlife conflict, is the brainchild of amateur mountaineer, Mr Simmon Phuthego.

Ms Nkoketsang Monnawatsheko and her daughter Cecilia lost their forearms in a crocodile attack whilst harvesting Tswii (water lily) in the Thamalakane River in Maun in 2020.

When apprising stakeholders about the upcoming activity, Mr Phuthego said the proceeds of the walk would go to funding trauma counselling for the duo and their family, while the other part of the money would help them to start a business. 

He said the organisation would also endeavour to source artificial limbs for the victims and he appealed to stakeholders to come on board and support the event. 

Mr Phuthego said they were seeking sponsors, including an ‘anchor or title sponsor’ for the event.

He said the KAZA Co-existence Charity Bushwalk would offer many benefits such as increasing tourists flow to the Ngamiland region as well as creating awareness about the region to domestic and international travellers, especially those who would be participating in the walk.

He was also hopeful that the walk would help diversify tourism products. He pleaded with sponsors to assist, noting that their contributions would help to extend his mission to each of the KAZA countries.

Meanwhile, Mr Phuthego recently launched The Simmon Phuthego Organization to mitigate human wildlife conflict and better serve victims in the local communities of the Southern Africa’s Kavango-Zambezi KAZA region.

It would raise funds for mitigation of human-wildlife conflict through an annual and revolving KAZA charity bushwalk in all the KAZA states namely; Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola.

The proceeds would benefit profiled victims injured by wild animals in each country. ENDS