19 Oct 2015

United States embassy has launched a P260 000 renovation project for Phuthadikobo Museum in Mochudi.

Speaking during the launch of the project in Mochudi recently, Ambassador Earl Miller of the US said the embassy funded the project through a flagship American programme called the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Miller said US government helped eligible countries around the world to preserve historic sites and manuscripts, museum collections and traditional forms of expression such as music, dance and language.

“With a grant of approximately P260 000, the US embassy will assist the Phuthadikobo Museum to restore and preserve this historic building,” he said.

He said the building served as a significant cultural and educational symbol for the people of Kgatleng District and taught the life and traditions of the Bakgatla people.

Ambassador Miller said the museum’s existence showed the importance of education to the people of Botswana and hoped that the preservation of the historic school building would be a source of pride for future generations.

Through the ambassadors fund, he said, US government had contributed over P2 million in six different projects, among them, the Old Palapye church and the preservation of San artifacts in the Kuru Cultural center in D’kar.

He noted that culture and history play an essential role in Botswana and believes that preserving the past and creating a legacy for future generations will give Batswana a strong cultural identity.

The vice chairperson of Phuthadikobo Museum board, Professor John Makgala said the grant would go a long way in helping the museum become what they had always dreamt it to be.

Professor Makgala said they had always desired to upgrade the museum and came up with innovative and strategic plans adding that funds had always been a limiting factor in their side.

He said the funds came at a critical time when Botswana is going towards 50th anniversary and among issues to consider is cultural heritage conservation.

He further said museums in Botswana continue to face funding challenges as they depend on government assistance, but they intend to be self-sustaining institutions in the near future.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Segale Linchwe said the old museum building was once a national school built back in 1921 and officially opened in 1923.

He said it was the first school in Botswana during the then Bechuanaland Protectorate and has been used for different purposes.

He said the school was a council chamber after independence and also housed the education department where students came for their books. Kgosi Segale said afterwards Kgosi Linchwe II decided that the building should be a museum. Ends