The Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Lesego Chombo has commended Shorobe Basket Cooperative in the Ngamiland region for their resilience, creativity, and efforts to preserve traditional craft while empowering local women.
Located in Shorobe on the periphery of the Okavango Delta, just 30km from Maun, the cooperative operates a curio shop well decorated with exquisite hand-woven baskets, skillfully crafted by local women.
The weavers of the Cooperative create and sell baskets of different patterns, colours and shapes, largely to tourists who use the Maun-Khwai Road on their way to the nearby Moremi Game Reserve and the Mababe depression.
The minister visited the cooperative recently to appreciate their work and better understand the challenges they face in sustaining their business. The cooperative’s chairperson, Boipuso Nyoke, highlighted that although tourists frequently stop by to admire and purchase their handcrafted baskets and some even stay to observe the weaving process they continue to face difficulties accessing domestic markets.
“We’re grateful for the tourist support, but breaking into the local market remains a challenge,” said Nyoke.
She, however, expressed optimism about recent developments, particularly the involvement of a Peace Corps volunteer from the United States, who is assisting them in using social media to market their products more widely.
“The move is already bearing fruit, with increased orders from local clients,” she added.
Nyoke noted that the cooperative is currently benefiting from the peak tourism season, and that some safari companies are now referring tourists directly to them for authentic craft shopping.
Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyoke shared that the cooperative had diversified its operations by starting a nursery and a garden, as a way to strengthen their sustainability and income streams.
Minister Chombo, visibly impressed by the initiative, praised the women for blending tradition with economic empowerment. “This project not only preserves our culture but uplifts female-headed households and fosters a spirit of self-reliance,” she said.
She encouraged the group to continue innovating and to create products that meet international standards. “Market research is key, understand what people want and produce for that demand,” she advised, pledging the Ministry’s continued support, particularly in marketing their products.
Chombo also urged more young people to join cooperatives, noting that such platforms have the potential to reduce poverty and build strong, self-sustaining communities.
“Work together as a team, think of future generations, and ensure funded projects are closely monitored and supported for long-term growth,” she concluded.
