09 Jun 2016

Donation of the late Bangwaketse paramount chief, Kgosi Bathoen II’s private papers to the national archives would provide a balance to the information in the public archives, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture has said.

Speaking at an event that combined the donation, official opening of the Kanye Records Centre (KRC) and commemoration of International Archives Day, Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng said Kgosi Bathoen’s documents would be kept in safe custody where they would also be accessible to all Batswana.

He said the documents entailed Kgosi Bathoen’s personal documentation on taxation, family relations, political involvement, interactions with the colonial government, and minutes of meetings of different associations, among other things.

He said this was a major contribution to the country’s heritage.

Olopeng said the records were a unique collection of private archives acquired during Kgosi Bathoen’s entire life.

The records, which dated as far back as the 1890s, were a unique collection of private archives acquired during Kgosi Bathoen’s life but were never availed to the public therefore would provide information on him and the nation in general.

Olopeng thus thanked Kgosi Malope II for donating the archives to be preserved for future generations, adding they would enrich the national collection.

Other royal families and eminent Batswana who donated family papers to the National Archives for preservation included the late Kgosi Tshekedi Khama, Jimmy Haskins, Alec Campbell, Motsamai Mpho and Moutlakgola Nwako.

The minister thus urged other royal families and eminent Batswana to also deposit their records and create a richer, diverse and more representative national heritage.

He said the archives and records would be used to recollect the nation’s development path during the 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

He therefore encouraged especially the youth to record important personal activities for future reference.

He argued that archives should be available even during the 100th anniversary to tell the nation ’story.

He was optimistic that the rich archives and the KRC, which cost over P47 Million would attract researchers and scholars to Kanye.

When handing over his grandfather’s archives, Kgosi Malope II explained that the intention was to preserve them permanently.

He said the records carried research information on Kgosi Bathoen’s life and the historical development of Kanye, Ga-Ngwaketse and Botswana as a whole.

Born on May 13, 1908, he said the records revealed that Kgosi Bathoen was a man of many talents who served the nation on diverse capacities.

Among his many exploits, he shared that Rakgosi or BII as the visionary kgosi was affectionately known by his subjects started the first ever agricultural fair in 1938 with the help of Mr Russel England, who was the first agric-demonstrator.

A man of firsts, he was, Kgosi Bathoen also built the first council chamber in Botswana called Tomela and the first library in Kanye.

He said Kgosi Bathoen also loved sport ranging from tennis, horse riding and once served as the president of Bechuanaland soccer league.

Kgosi Bathoen also served in the African Advisory Council from 1928-1949 and ultimately became chairperson of the organisation.

He resigned from his position as kgosikgolo of Bangwaketse in June 1969, joined politics and became a Member of Parliament for Kanye under the Botswana National Front ticket.

In recognition of his visionary leadership, the British government honoured him with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 1946 and the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1953.He died on October, 3, 1990, as the president of the Customary Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Malope pleaded with government to name the KRC after Kgosi Bathoen II, the sentiment he shared with the area Member of Parliament Patrick Ralotsia.

Ralotsia also commended Kgosi Malope for donating the remains of Kgosi Bathoen’s rich collection for posterity.

He argued that the records would immortalise Rakgosi. ENDS