21 Mar 2016

During the 49^th independence celebration at the National Stadium last year, President Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama launched the roving torch which marks the countdown to Botswana’s 50^th anniversary to be celebrated this year. 

Addressing the nation shortly after lighting the roving torch, President Khama said the symbol of the burning roving fire in the torch was anticipated to keep the independence spirit burning and thus the country would in turn realise the seven vision 2016 pillars. 

It would appear the initiative is achieving its intended purpose. 

The Roving Torch or ‘Molelo wa Kgolagano’ as Batswana serves as a national symbol of prosperity and hope for Batswana. The roving torch is carried around all the major towns and villages around the country for 365 days and return back to Gaborone on September 30. 

As the torch goes around the country, it will light 16 mini caldrons erected in 16   districts which will burn until September 30.

Interestingly, this is not the first roving torch to be lit in the country. 

According to an elder in Francistown, Mr Keorapetse Ramokate, 79, he remembers this unity fire being lit around the 80s on a windy Independence Day celebration. 

Regrettably, he does not remember much about the day due to old age.

A 52 year old, Ms Kedibonye Mmamodisana however, vividly remembers the lighting of the 2006 roving torch, when Botswana celebrated its 40^th independence.

“In 2006, the roving torch was lit at the monument of the three dikgosi in the Central Business District, and then we proceeded on a march to the Civic Centre. I remember fondly that the torch was handed to the then Gaborone District Commissioner, Mr Richard  Oaitse, who received it from chief executive officers of the companies that contributed to that year’s independence celebration, who in-turn passed it to the then Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Moeng Pheto. It was a remarkable day for me,” she said.

Traditionally, the roving torch is accompanied by members of the Botswana Defence Force and Botswana Police as well as other people. When it arrives in a village or town, it is handed over to the district commissioner or mayor who would then hand it over to dikgosi in each of the villages where it would have a stopover.

This allows for the reading of the messages and lighting of the bonfires in the respective dikgotla that have to be kept burning until September 30. The attention that surrounds this torch can never be missed anywhere it goes as it attracts a lot of attention and enthusiasm.

“It seems Batswana had longed for this moment for a really long time. We see on Botswana Television that throughout all the villages the torch went to, Batswana were glued to the roads, proudly clad in national colours of blue, black and white, singing, ululating and honking their vehicles to welcome its arrivals,” said Ms Tlamelo Radira who recalled witnessing the torch’s arrival for an overnight stay in Thamaga from Kumakwane and Mmankgodi in 2006. 

Furthermore, she recalled a night full of dance and traditional feasting, in jubilation of the torch at their kgotla at the time. Ends