06 Apr 2014

It is important to restore the artefacts and bring them to a condition where they can benefit the nation in future areas in research, exhibitions and education, says the Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) Tshekedi Khama.

Minister Khama said this during the launch of conservation treatment of museum leather artefacts project last Friday, April 4 in Gaborone.

He stated that the artefacts were an important resource which provides information and a reference point about life processes, events and interactions among people of Botswana as well as the environment.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment Wild Life and Tourism, Neil Fitt explained that late in 2011, the National Museum encountered power cuts which caused failure of the air conditioning system in the ethnology collection’s storerooms.

Fitt said that caused fluctuations of internal relative humidity and temperature, hence jeorpardising the environmental climatic conditions necessary for preservation of leather collection.

As a result, he explained that 478 leather artefacts were infested with mould.

Due to the catastrophe, he said objects were removed from their designated storage area and quarantined, saying this was to enable cleaning and fumigation of storage area.

However an attempt to carry-out treatment of leather objects was not successful due to financial limitations.

Fitt stated that it was regrettable that during the quarantine period, the leather collection could not be used to support important museum initiatives such as research, education and exhibitions.

The National Museum  conducted a condition survey on these 478 leather objects to determine the extent of conservation needed and as a result sought financial support of P348 000 from the United States Ambassador’s fund to save the collection.

“I am pleased that this was met with approval and hence the beginning of the conservation project,” he said.

He noted that the project covered treatment of artefacts, which would be done by Better Brand Holdings, a citizen owned company and purchasing of conservation equipment and materials. The project, he said would be completed by end of May 2014.Fitt commended US government for being a consistent partner in development and conservation of the local heritage.

Charge d’ Affaires, Michael Murphy of the United States stated that as a friend and partner, the US was trying to do its part to support the arts and culture in Botswana.

One major way, he said was through the Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).  AFCP, he said supports the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects and forms of traditional cultural expression in more than 100 countries around the world.

He noted that since 2001 the US government invested approximately over P1.3million in four different AFCP projects throughout Botswana because it believes in the aesthetic and cultural importance of Botswana’s heritage. ENDS