24 Jul 2017

Nhabe Museum in Maun will officially re-open in August, says the museum chairperson, Ompatile Sebuelo.

The re-opening is expected to be officiated by the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Labour Affairs, Edwin Batshu. Sebuelo said this when briefing members of the community at Maun kgotla on July 20.

Sebuelo said the museum had been operating with less artefacts to showcase due to lack of coordination between the museum and the Ngamiland community.

He, however, said the Nhabe Museum, as a community museum, was under the custody of the community as government only assisted through salaries of a few engaged officials.

He pointed out that the other running costs of the Nhabe Museum was upon the community to help the museum raise funds for sustenance of the day-to-day operations.

Sebuelo said the museum would prelaunch following a P1 million fund from the European Union which has seen the development of some structures which would be leased to clients to help raise funds for the museum.

He noted that the new board elected in 2016 hoped to revive the museum, and that it had made pleas and acquired the funding from the European Union amongst other developments.

Sebuelo noted that the community and museum had drifted apart in the past which led to the museum losing its artefacts, and some individuals claiming back historical artefacts donated to the museum.

The Nhabe Museum, he said, should be a hub for Ngamiland with its rich tradition and culture as a sole custody for the community.

He said it showed that the  community was not aware of its role and purpose in restoring the museum which kept the Ngamiland culture alive for the young generation to appreciate.

Sebuelo said it was disheartening that the museum lacked a variety of resources, including human resources and artefacts to exhibit.

He said as the useum had a few personnel it required assistance from the community to achieve its mandate.

Nhabe Museum additional member, Tshematshe Monwela said the museum should reflect the people of Ngamiland and their traditions, but said the museum had nothing to showcase.

Monwela said artefacts exhibits would be an added advantage to attract tourists to the museum at a reasonable charge to raise funds for the museum.

He said statistics showed that tourists returned to their respective places with about P11 million worth of money unused, the money the museum could tap into.

Community members in attendance appreciated the consultation by the Nhabe Museum board.

They said it  should be the beginning of further consultations for the community to be abreast with issues affecting the museum.

Kgosi Oleyo Ledimo said the museum had detached from the community, and that the consultation was a positive development to correct past mistakes.

Kgosi Cosmos Lelathego also appreciated the step by the museum board on consultations, and said community members were willing to assist in reviving the museum through donations of artefacts. ENDS