Mascom Wireless, Botswana’s leading mobile telecommunication company will again this year bring excitement to the tourism hub of Maun over the coming Easter holidays when it hosts its annual horse race.

The popular race, commonly known as The Mascom National Derby, has been in existence since 2006 and held over the Easter holidays. In its maiden years, the race was held in Gaborone or Maun, until finally relocating to Botswana’s cosmopolitan tourism capital, Maun.

On the 8th year of its existence, the event will be held at Shashe Racing Track on the 30th March. The race has 2 categories of horses these are Tswana breed and Thoroughbreds.

“The popular show brings in participants from Namibia, and from Botswana we have participants from Sehithwa, Ghanzi, Charles Hill, Maun, Gumare and Palapye,” Mascom explained.

“The Mascom National Derby brings new and exciting avenues of entertainment to Maun and surrounding areas. It also gives Batswana horse owners and jockeys the opportunity to develop the standards of horse racing by competing against one another.”

The Easter holiday is fun filled in Maun as the public gets to watch live horses racing and the days are filled with musical entertainment and draws for various prizes. The Derby attracts tourists from around Botswana and Namibia to Maun, and this in turn has a positive impact on the economy.

Small business owners also get a chance to set up exhibition and food stalls for sale at the race Mascom has invested over 3 million Pula into the Derby, which is billed to feature around 100 horses. The event is open to the public for P30. Adults and P15 for children under 12. The field is fenced to protect both horses and spectators with 50 Security guards, 30 Police and 10 Bouncers.

Mascom has a subscriber base in excess of 1.63 million giving it a market share of just over 53% of the Botswana mobile telecoms market.