15 Mar 2020

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tumiso Rakgare has commended Masunga community for successfully constructing a state of the art community library and cultural centre.

Officially opening the new library recently, Mr Rakgare said the story behind the success of the project demonstrated that Masunga leadership and the community were committed to seeing it to the end.

The library and cultural centre were funded by the Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation to the tune of P5 million, while the conference centre was built through a P400 contribution from each Masunga native.

Mr Rakgare said the library concept was not a new thing in Masunga, as it dates back to 1991, when the village built a one-roomed reading room.

He said one of the ways through which communities throve was by building strong partnerships with stakeholders to deliver programmes meant to benefit and change their livelihoods.

The minister indicated that the Masunga community was able to prioritise the library project, even during the time of economic hardships, which was a choice for a bright educational future.

He said government and the people of Masunga were indebted to the Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation for presenting a magnificent library to Masunga community.

Mr Rakgare stated that the partnership between government and the Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation of the US was formalised in 2007, where an agreement was reached to build 20 libraries over a 10-year-period, and Masunga library was the 17^th library in the project.

He said libraries played a major role in transforming the country from being resource-based to being a knowledge-based economy.

“Libraries are driven by the belief that transformation is vital to improve lives and that it is equally required by everyone irrespective of their geographical location, race, religion, gender and age,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted that libraries were public spaces for the community to share information, discuss topical issues of concern, promote and preserve cultural heritage and access government services.

He dispelled perceptions that libraries were for school going children, adding that modern day libraries had programmes for both children and adults.

Mr Rakgare said the outdoor stage could be used by arts and culture practitioners, study groups and public lectures, while children could utilise the playground facility.

The minister encouraged other communities to emulate Masunga and adopt the spirit of self-help.

He applauded the contractor for completing the project on time.

Speaking on behalf of Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation, deputy public affairs officer at the US embassy, Mr Evans Davis said the key pillar for the family was community development towards contributing to education for a knowledge-based society.

He said the funders were greatful for the Masunga community for raising funds to build the conference centre, to give the library a striking appearance.

Mr Davis indicated that the US embassy was looking forward to such community building collaborations in the future.

Kgosi Maruje III of Masunga thanked his community for all the efforts they put into ensuring that the project was a success, stressing that it was testament that partnerships produced positive results.

He said the new library would go a long way in ensuring that the future generation was knowledgeable and thanked the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development for equipping the library with books, games, computers, printers and photo copiers.

Kgosi Maruje said the library would play a major role in education as children from all schools would utilise it.

“With this new library we believe our schools will perform exceptionally well and we hope Masunga Senior Secondary School will continue to soar high,” he said.

He commended the Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation for its contribution to the project, adding that it was rare for people from one country to bring developments to a foreign country.                

Giving a vote of thanks, Member of Parliament for Tati West Mr Simon Moabi said Masunga people were blessed to have a visionary leader in Kgosi Maruje III, who worked tirelessly to mobilise his people to contribute to the project.

He commended the Robert and Sara Rothschild family foundation for selecting Masunga as the beneficiary of this massive project. Ends