03 Aug 2014

The War Memorial Statue in Parliament Square is in the National Monuments Register and is under the custodianship of the Department of National Museum and Monuments, defence, justice and security minister, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse has said.


“As far as the department is concerned the names and origins of the fallen heroes are accurate,” he added.
 Mr Seretse said “Fallen Heroes” day was not observed in Botswana and as such no ceremonial wreaths were laid at the War Memorial Statue on the day.

“It is a policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom to lay red poppies on Veterans Day for fallen heroes. The Commonwealth has no such policy and Commonwealth member states are not compelled to adopt such policy,” he said.


However, the minister said his ministry was investigating whether Botswana should have a similar policy and had commenced consultations with other stakeholders. 


Francistown West MP, Dr Habaudi Hobona had asked the minister to state the accurate names and origins of the Fallen Heroes epitaph in Parliament Square and whether ceremonial wreaths were laid at the epitaph on the day of “Fallen Heroes.” ENDS