Ngami Basket Weavers Headed For Stockholm

Boniface Keakabetse | Monday June 30, 2014 06:59

Chairman of North West District Council (NWDC), Lathang Molonda told a full council meeting recently  that the exhibition will market and sell baskets from Ngamiland. He said two basket weavers from the district will have an opportunity to represent all the basket makers at the exhibition.

 Molonda told the house that the exhibition is part of the twinning programme that NWDC has with the Sweden’s Hultsfred municipality. Through this partnership, Hultsfred helps NWDC in the development of the informal sector to cut down poverty. Molonda further added that Hultsfred municipality has already conducted trainings from 27 May- 03 June to impart business skills to basket weavers in Ngamiland. “Our project team and women basket makers had training on basket storytelling, pricing and marketing,” Molonda said.

He also  informed the House about the revival of cooperatives in the wildlife villages of Mababe and Khwai. 

Molonda said the Khwai cooperative started operating in May this year while the Mababe cooperative’s operation has been delayed pending the processing of its registration and formulation of its guidelines. He said the cooperatives will boost economic activities in the villages and called on area councillors to help ensure that proceeds from the cooperatives are well utilised for the benefit of the communities.

Molonda also told the house that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) will soon start implementing fisheries projects benefiting the poor in Ngamiland. He said DWNP will undertake training of the fisheries beneficiaries who will be provided with funds for purchasing fishing equipment in the beginning of July. He said a total of P2 million has been approved by government to fund fisheries projects nationally under the poverty eradication programme.