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The newly opened Mohembo bridge, has already attracted two sporting activities to the Okavango. The two are the Mohembo Bridge Charity Walk as well as the Mohembo Bridge Marathon and Arts Festival.
The walk will be held on May 6th this year, between Shakawe and Mohembo while the inaugural marathon and arts festival is scheduled for August 24th to 26th at the same venue.
The organiser of the walk, Monde Mokobi has explained that through the event they intend to raise the funds for the Phomolong Orphan and Vulnerable Children Counselling Centre located in Shakawe.
According to Mokobi, the centre is currently in need of funds to secure a plot, vehicle, office furniture, potter cabin for offices.
She added that the walk will also go a long way in benefiting the local businesses, especially the hospitality industry which will be booked for accommodation by the visiting athletes and patrons.
Mokobi further added that other industries like entertainment, catering and photography will also benefit from the event.
“Since the walk started some stakeholders in Shakawe and even outside have been very supportive, we also get most support from the village leadership, our main sponsor last year was Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), we are still looking for sponsors to support this year’s event,” she stated.
The first edition of the walk was held last year on May 7th and plans are to host it annually. Registration for different categories of the walk is open and they include the 25km at P200, 15km for P150, 10km for P100, 15km walk for children at P75 and 15km walk at P150.
The marathon and the arts festival on the other hand will comprise of a 5 a-side soccer tournament, a relay tough man challenge, 15km run, 5km fun race, short distances (400m flat, 4X4 relay and 4X1 relay and kiddies’ games.
The event’s organiser, Gosalamang Maitiso told Times Sport that its aim is to promote sports tourism and also make Mohembo an entertainment hub.
“The event is for the benefit of the panhandle and it is done to develop the region through sport using the Mohembo bridge,” he said. Maitiso indicated that the funds will be given back to the underprivileged members of the community.
He stated that the marathon route will cover the Mohembo and Shakawe villages. He stressed that the marathon will also be aligned with different activities that include team building activities and individual races.
