The event has been embraced with open arms by the business community as Heineken, Botswana Accountancy College, Major Blue Air and Fidelity Print Mark are among the sponsors. Okavango Human Wildlife Conflict Foundation founding director, Kenosi Kamina said the tournament will highlight issues around growing human-wildlife conflict.
“This event has been long overdue because we want to continue to put the spotlight on the victims badly affected by wildlife and give assistance wherever possible,” Kamina told Mmegi Sport.
The charity cup is scheduled to be held annually with the hopes of spreading it to the rest of the country.
In their effort to turn the first event into a success, the two parties hope to raise enough funds to offer psychosocial support, restorative compensation, burial and medical insurance to victims of human-wildlife conflict. Kamina said what is also important is to promote coexistence and tolerance by humans to wildlife while enjoying the game of golf.
Botswana Golf Union president, Modiri Phuthego said the mother body saw it fit to partner with the foundation for a worthy cause. “Having been approached by the foundation, we as an organisation also saw an opportunity to bring the game of golf to Okavango and introduce it to the community in order to erase the idea that it’s a game of the elite,” Phuthego said.
