30 Dec 2019

The Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has encouraged Batswana to preserve and document their culture.

Mr Tsogwane, who was among people, who celebrated Sepopa’s 77 years of existence by the Okavango River bank in Sepopa on December 27, said documenting one’s culture and history could benefit tourists, researchers and future generations.

The vice president observed that culture was an embodiment of beliefs and traditions that connected communities.

He therefore said it was vital for culture to be utilised to open opportunities for communities locally and internationally.

Sepopa’s celebration, he said was a historical milestone, which would help to place the village in the map.

Mr Tsogwane noted that the community of Sepopa was moving in the right direction by prioritising marketing their village to investors and tourists through events and planning to form a cultural Centre.

The government, he said would support Sepopa community in its endeavor to develop its village.

On other issues, Mr Tsogwane said vices facing the nation such as gender-based violence must be shunned by people and should not be treated as culture.

As such, he encouraged communities to live with one another peacefully as different groups.

Mr Tsogwane also used the opportunity to thank Batswana for the recent past elections, which he said, were peaceful and continued Botswana’s legacy as an icon of peace.

He said Batswana should thank God for peace and the recent rains.

For his part, Kgosi Habuhabu Disaro of Sepopa said their village was historically significant, as it existed pre-colonial Botswana dating back to around 1800.

Kgosi Disaro noted that the village initially had a few developments being a general dealer and a house that was used as a school in the formative years.

Over the years, he said other developments such as the primary school followed and a junior secondary school also came to being.

Nonetheless, Kgosi Disaro said the village still lacked behind in some developments despite being older than other villages in the district.

For instance, he said the village experienced shortage of water due to an old dysfunctional plant and absence of a post office in the village negatively hampered some services.

The Sepopa Existence chairperson, Mr Xaanda Pitoro said their aim was to promote Sepopa as a tourism destination and an investment haven.

“Sepopa has unique natural resources as a water body where the Okavango River passes as the name Sepopa reflects, which means flow of water,” he said.

He noted that the village was strategically located between Maun and Shakawe while Tsodilo Hills was located about 27 kilometres north of the village.

Sepopa prides itself for being one of the old villages recognised by the then British administration pre-colonial Botswana around 1942.

Historians note that the village had human life as early as around 1800.  

Meanwhile, the celebrations, which attracted both young and old was marked by historical speeches, traditional song and dances from Bahambukushu and Wayeyi groups who represent two main ethnic groups found in the village. ends