07 Jan 2016

Gudigwa village was the first village in the Okavango Sub- district to receive the roving torch on Tuesday .

The roving torch was received at Kuke Gate near Sehithwa from Gantsi region and travelled to Gudigwa to begin its journey through the villages on the Mohembo West side of the pristine Okavango Delta.

Gantsi District Commissioner Mr Loeto Porati pointed out that the roving torch signified a light that has united Batswana based on the national principles of tebelopele, independence, democracy and culture of Botho.

Mr Porati said the Gantsi District had received the torch from Kgalagadi and had harnessed its principles and therefore implored the North West District to do the same.

On behalf of North West District, the District Commissioner Ms Chabongwa Matseka said the district has been waiting patiently for the torch and would safe keep it until they handed it over to the Chobe District  on January 26.

Subsequently, the villagers of Gudigwa received the roving torch with songs and dances.

For his part, Gudigwa, Kgosi Divere Ndando expressed happiness that it was their first time to have such an experience with the roving torch in their village.

In a separate interview, the Okavango Sub- district Commissioner Mr Thabang Dikatholo  told BOPA that Okavango Sub- district was the first to received the roving torch in the New Year.

Mr Dikatholo said the roving torch was expected to spend about 10 days crisscrossing about 13 villages and settlements with the first stop being Gudigwa on the other side of the Okavango Delta and would proceed among villages as Beetsha, Eretsha, Gunotsoga, Seronga, Sekondomboro.

In Kauxwi the torch would spend about 10 minutes travelling on boat over the magnificent Okavango Delta from Mohembo East to Mohembo West.

Mr Dikatholo said the roving torch would then move from Shakawe, Samochima, Xhauga,Nxamasere and Chukumuchu, before proceeding to Botswana’s first World Heritage Site; Tsodilo Hills.

The last leg of the roving torch would cover villages of Etsha, Tubu Xai-xai, Qangwa Nokaneng and complete its journey at Habu where the Okavango Sub- district would hand it to Ngami on January 16.

The roving torch was launched in Gaborone September last year by President Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and has since gone through Southern District, South East, Jwaneng, Kgalagadi and Ghanzi.

The touch will complete its journey in Gaborone end of September 2016 to mark 50 years of independence for the country. Ends