The Samochima kgotla came to life last Friday as the community gathered for its annual Harvest Festival, a vibrant event blending agriculture, culture and agritourism.

Locals showcased a diverse yield, including millet, maize, melons and various beans and vegetables, to mark a fruitful farming year.

Emphasising the festival’s theme, Culture, Tourism and Harvest: A Key for Livelihoods Upliftment, Kgosi Osenotse Koloi highlighted the event’s foundation on three core pillars, including agriculture, tourism and culture. 

Kgosi Koloi praised the Samochima Farmers Committee, local residents and stakeholders for organising the celebration. 

He Kgosi noted that as part of the Okavango District’s tourism hub, Samochima boasted numerous hospitality facilities that contributed directly to the local economy.

Guest speaker, Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) industrial relations officer in Shakawe, Mr Kabelo Mahupe, advised the farmers committee to formally register the association. 

Mr Mahupe commended their eight-year commitment to driving the festival and urged local farmers to scale up from subsistence to commercial farming.

He noted that agriculture remained an economic mainstay for the Okavango district. 

He encouraged farmers to adopt food processing and modern preservation techniques to ensure that produce was available year-round and accessible to wider markets.

On heritage, Mr Mahupe urged the community to revive and preserve their Hambukushu culture. He highlighted the economic potential of local artifacts and traditional music, saying government supported creative talent through initiatives like the National Arts Competitions. 

He added that with effective packaging and marketing, the festival could become a major tourist draw.

The celebration ended with performances by traditional groups showcasing Hambukushu dances, including Diware, Rango and Thiwingi alongside the Wayeyi Seperu dance and setinkane music. ENDS