Region celebrate the humble marula

Khosikhulu Vho-Toni Mphephu Ramabulana has urged rural unemployed women to empower themselves economically by brewing marula beer and selling it to the public.

“We want our rural unemployed women to take advantage of the marula season. By drinking mukumbi/marula beer, we are celebrating our cultural values,” he added.

He and the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, and the Vhembe district executive mayor, Cllr Tshitereke Matibe, were some of the speakers during the Vhembe District Marula Festival at the Dzata Museum on Saturday.

More than R20 000 was generated by members of Tshidimbini Mukumbi Cooperative through the selling of the beer to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, which was consumed free of charge by communities and traditional leaders. “When celebrating and drinking marula beer, they unite and come together as one nation. We must learn to conserve the marula tree,” added Mphephu Ramabulana.

MEC Letsatsi-Duba urged communities to plant more marula trees and protect them in an effort to ensure sustainability.

“Marula Day must be a respected every year. Marula beer also helps in cleaning our bodies, so that we can stay healthy,” said Letsatsi-Duba.

Date:22 February 2013

By: Silas Nduvheni

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