04 Oct 2017

A commemorative walk symbolising the contribution made by families in Botswana in support of South Africans who took part in the liberation struggle during the apartheid era will be held in Lobatse on October 7. 

According to a press release from the Freedom Heritage Walk organisers, the walk will start at the historic Fish Keitseng Monument in partnership with Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development as well as the Botswana National Museum. 

The statement states that the walk is meant to stimulate and re-engineer socio-economic activities through the appraisal of the cultural heritage in Lobatse. 

It further states that Lobatse has a history of connecting Botswana and South Africa based on the unique and strategic support that liberation and freedom activists received during the apartheid regime. 

The release points out that history has not preserved what role Botswana in general and Lobatse in particular had played in the liberation of South Africa, indicating that many people are unaware of a place in Botswana where Nelson Mandela, other freedom fighters and activists spent time en-route, through treacherous circumstances to Tanzania and beyond. 

It says it was not known to most people that a Lobatse resident, the late Mr Fish Keitseng went out of his way to receive, accommodate and host them while preparations were being made for their safe passage. 

It explains that it was at the humble homestead of the late Mr Keitseng, where exactly 55 years ago that the ANC armed struggle wing, Umkhontho We Sizwe was adopted. 

The planned 4.2-kilometre walk will start from the Fish Keitseng Monument, where history lessons will be given and fundraising will be carried out to re-construct and equip the centre in an efforts to make a permanent repository of socio-cultural heritage and experience. 

There will also be screening of a documentary demo titled Yours Truly, A Freedom Fighter. 

Other activities for the day will include a workshop themed, Promoting Sustainable Youth Employment Through Creative Arts, which will be held tomorrow. 

During the workshop, a writer and film director, a career coach and film actors will facilitate a team of 200 youths from Lobatse and surrounding areas on self-development and self-employment. 

There will also be some liberation heritage exhibitions and corporate stalls, which will form part of the main fundraising event. ENDS