14 Aug 2016

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has implored  residents of Siviya in the North East district to document and preserve their culture.
Speaking during  the 120th anniversary of the village on August 13, Mr Masisi urged  residents to write their origins, songs and cultural practices in their native language as well as other languages that were spoken in the country.
He explained that since the country had a diversity of languages, some of the residents should also translate their practices into those languages so that other ethnic groups could  also appreciate them. He noted that Botswana was one of the countries where peace and tranquility prevailed because ethnic groups appreciated their cultural differences.
The Vice President commended  residents of Siviya for finding it fit to celebrate the existence of their village and urged them to work hard to develop it in line with the anticipated Vision 2036 pillars.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Louis Siviya said the celebrations were  a milestone as they would form part of the history of the village as well as that of the country. He urged residents to be proud of themselves, their culture and their village. A member of the anniversary celebrations’ research committee, Kgosi Christopher Macala of Central Ward said the idea of having the celebrations came about in 2011 during the visit by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.
He explained that it was during the visit that they realised that information about their village was slowly fading away as it was difficult to put together a presentation for the President.
Kgosi Macala said subsequently a committee was appointed to gather information about the origins of the village and later a plan to celebrate the 120 years of existence was conceived.
The Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Kootshole Nhlabano said Siviya was semi-developed with infrastructure such as a primary school, health post, kgotla offices and a tarred road from the Francistown-Ramokgwebana road to the kgotla. Ms Nhlabano said although the village had water and electricity supply, there was one ward which had been left out when elecrification was carried out.  
She said since the village was near the border, it had become a route for illegal immigrants and the lack of electricity in the ward had contributed to criminal activities especially at night. ENDS