22 Nov 2018

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi will officially open the Matsiloje kgotla shelter November 24 as part of the village’s centenary celebrations.

The kgotla shelter was built through constituency allowance and community service.

The chairperson of the centenary celebrations organising committee and Matsiloje deputy chief, Kgosi Solomon Segopa said preparations were at an advanced stage, and that other dignitaries expected to grace the occassion were the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhe, local government and rural development minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, youth empowerment, sport and culture development minister, Mr Thapelo Olopeng and Batlokwa paramount chief, Kgosi Puso.

Matsiloje was established by Barolong Bo-Seleka Ba Ga Moroka from Thaba Nchu, South Africa, under the leadership of Kgosi James Moroka after fleeing from Ndebele impis of Chief Mzilikazi in South Africa

The village lies besides the Matsiloje Hills which are mined for limestone and soapstone products. The Mupane gold mine is also in the area.

Some of the landmarks in the village include the border post, a police station, a junior secondary school and the Spiritual Healing Church under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Motswasele.

The village is now home to a number of tribes including  Barolong, Ndebele, Kalanga and others. The village started as a humble church settlement in the north-eastern side of Francistown.

They left Thaba Nchu in 1833 until they reached Matsiloje in 1916.

It is said that the reason they settled for Matsiloje was because of plenty of water, fertile soils and wild animals.

The centenary celebrations could have been held in 2016, but they concided with Botswana’s jubilee celebrations and were postponed to give the country’s celebrations prominence.

Kgosi Segopa said there would also be representatives from the traditional leadership of Thaba Nchu.

Kgosi Segopa said although the celebrations were scheduled to take place at the main kgotla, the organising committee has ensured that big TV screens should be set up at the kgotla premises for other other residents to watch the event as they could not all be accommodated in the shelter.

The centenary committee has also lined up mouthwatering activities to spice up the day, which include choral music, poems and traditional dance.

Dr Serai Rakgoasi, a lecturer at the University of Botswana, will narrate the history of the village and reveal how the inhabitants came to be in the area. ENDS