28 Feb 2016

Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is also Moshupa-Manyana MP, has implored his constituents to pride themselves in cultural and natural heritage as well as its preservation.

Delivering a keynote address at the Manyana Heritage Marathon Race and site tour on Saturday, he said the area comprises sites of historical significance that need to be safeguarded.

Masisi said heritage sites show Botswana’s rich history. He quoted the late and first President of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama’s words that “a nation without a culture or a past is a lost or dead nation and a people without a past or rather culture is a people without a soul’.

Sites of historical significance in the constituency include the Mmamotshwane Gorge in Mogonye, the Livingstone Tree in Manyana, Mma Sechele Gorge in Manyana and Dimawe Hills in Manyana.

He said these historical sites played a pivotal role in building the present Botswana, noting that they form the basis of Batswana culture. 

Masisi challenged his constituents to beautify the Livingstone Tree fencing to improve its scenic beauty in order to lure tourists, adding that it would enhance photo shooting opportunities in the place.

The Vice President said cultural and natural heritage as well as tourism is in line with the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). He encouraged residents to utilise the programme to improve their quality of life.He encouraged residents to offer gifts in weddings, baby showers and other social activities with items that depict culture.

Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the 21 kilometre Manyana Heritage Marathon, a professional athlete, Rapula Diphoko said he was using the race to gauge his level of fitness and mental approach towards a race.

Diphoko, of Lefika Athletics Club, who scooped position one and clocked one hour 53 seconds, said the race helped him prepare for a 12 kilometre Africa-Cross Country spectacle to be held in Cameroon in the near future.

He said he participated at the just ended Botswana cross-country in Gaborone where he got position three, and was awaiting selection results for the Africa cross-country as the national race was meant to select athletes who would represent Botswana in Cameroon for the continental showpiece.

He said the Manyana Heritage Marathon helped him realise that he lacks speed and would work on enhancing it, noting that he was slow when ascending slopes.

He said his strength was impressive and was optimistic of obtaining a good position if selected for the Africa cross-country showpiece.

He won P2 500 while Ntoko Kelepile of Moshupa went away with P1 500 for the second position after clocking 1hour 5 minutes in the race.

The third position went to Mmoloki Ditsele of Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) Athletics Club after clocking 1hour 12minutes and scooped P500.ENDS