29 Nov 2015

In honour of the role played by the Kgaboesele family during the 1960s Mozambican liberation struggle, the government of Mozambique will transform the family’s house in Lobatse into a museum.

This was said by the Mozambican High Commissioner to Botswana, Fernando Chomar at a recent liberation heritage movement workshop in Kasane. 

He explained that they were building the family a house to relocate to in order to turn the old house into a Samora Machel monument. 

“We are expecting groundbreaking to be on December 3 this year,” he said. 

This, he said, was in recognition of the Kgaboesele family’s hospitality in accommodating the late Samora Machel, who was a liberation fighter and former President of Mozambique. 

The Department of National Museum in collaboration with regional support from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique hosted the Liberation Heritage Movement workshop in Kasane last week. 

The main aim of the workshop according to the museum curator, Onkgopotse Moseki was to recognise the role played by Botswana in the liberation movement and exchange ideas on how to manage liberation heritage sites. 

Among the countries which used Botswana as a route include freedom fighters from South Africa, Lesotho, Angola Namibia and Mozambique. 

Still at the workshop, countries exchanged ideas on how to look after and care for liberation heritance monuments and history.

It was also stated that monuments have a purpose since they were a reminder of what happened and a tribute to the departed heroes and fallen countrymen. 

“Monuments also have the ability to leave a lasting legacy,” said Dr Ndahafa Jijiuongua from Namibia.

She complained that some graves of fallen heroes were not being looked after, and suggested that dead comrades should be recogniscomesed and be buried in a fitting environment through regional cooperation. 

Moseki said Botswana contributed in the liberation struggle by offering refuge to freedom fighters such as the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

Mandela passed through the Kazungula ferry on his way to Tanzania and similarly, Mr Sam Nujoma, who was the first black president of Namibia, was also accommodated in Blue Town in Francistown’s ‘White House.’ 

He said Kazungula gave birth to all the liberation movements in the region as it was used as a crossing point en route to Zambia.

The High Commissioner of Namibia to Botswana, Mbapeua Muvangua thanked Botswana for welcoming the Namibians as they escaped from German colonisation in 1904.

He said there were even Namibians who now have Botswana citizenship.

The newly launched Kazungula liberation heritage monument stands as a symbol of acknowledging Botswana’s role in regional liberation struggles.Ends