By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK New Era Publications yesterday became a partner in the first-ever attempt at a Namibian world record-breaking event in what may be the world’s biggest braai and charity event. The event will cost the various sponsors about N$1,6million. Meatco, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, teamed up with various sponsors at the launch to organise the day that many will remember. Besides New Era, sponsors include the Trustco Group, Namibia Beverages (Coca-Cola), Renaissance Health Medical Aid Fund, One Africa Television and Omulunga Radio. Although the event is aimed at Namibia breaking the world record, the other benefits and spin-offs for local people are that funds generated will be donated to selected local charities in the country, while at the same time feeding the large crowd. In what will turn out to be a veritable ‘Boerewors Feast’, 44 159 Namibians will be fed in a single sitting to break the current world record that the Australians hold according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The current record for the world largest barbeque was held near Sydney in 1993. However, Corporate Communications Manager of Meatco Uschi Ramakhutla, said: “It doesn’t matter whether you call it a barbeque, a braai or a kapana – we know that it is a traditional Namibian activity and if anyone should hold the world record, it should be us Namibians,” said Rama-khutla, adding the time had come for Namibia to take its place on the world stage. The mammoth event will involve people being fed with boerewors stretching over 750 metres in length. The world record-breaking feat will be held on September 9 this year at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura, where each of the 44 159 guests will be fed a bread roll, boerewors and a cool drink while being entertained with local music. Each sponsor will select a charity of its choice to which his or her income will be donated. “Not only do we want to give all Namibians a great day at our braai, but will generate funds for charity – and will raise the profile of Namibia, right across the world, as we show what Namibians can do when they come together with a common goal,” Ramakhutla explained. The event is the brainchild of Interact FCB who, together with Sindana Communications, are organising and managing the world record event. In an interview with Managing Director of ‘Interact FCB’, Alan Brough, he said that after a feasibility study was done about the event at the beginning of this year, the idea was judged as an excellent way for Meatco to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in style. Brough said by engaging people at the grassroots level to take part in the world’s biggest braai, and, especially with something most Namibians feel passionate about, the organisers felt this could become a truly Namibian feast. Logistics have been taken into consideration, especially when it comes to controlling the crowd at the stadium on that Saturday from six o’clock in the morning until seven at night. “Each person will pay a N$1 entrance fee and will be guided through the queues where to get their boerewors, bread roll and cool drink and then pass through to exit the stadium in an orderly fashion,” added Brough. Crowd control is one major part of making this event a success and the Humphries Security Company will maintain order while the City Police and the VIP Protection Unit will also be present to control the crowd in such a way that people “trickle through” the stadium and keep the steady inflow and outflow. An auditing company will be solicited to ensure that there’s no cheating and each person will be stamped with an ultraviolet stamp while they ere counted at the same time. This should ultimately ensure accuracy. “This is all about what Namibians can do when they choose to come together,” said the Interact FCB Managing Director. All Namibians are invited to take part in this significant and historic event. At the end of the event, each participant will be given a Certificate as Record Breaker to prove their participation. During the next three months until September 9, there will be an informative, educational and persuasive drive to encourage Namibians to take part in the event.