01 Oct 2025

On Tuesday,  September 30, scores of members of the public adorned in Botswana colours gathered at various wards in Lobatse for the 59^th Independence celebrations through a spectacle of cultural heritage activities to celebrate Botswana’s history and sovereignty.

The festivities included traditional and contemporary musical renditions, fashion, traditional food and poetry. The 86 year old elder, Mr Joseph Bakwena was amongst those in a celebratory mood at Peleng Ward. 

For him, the day brought back memories when the British established the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1885 to counter the threats of German and Boer expansion and to secure trade routes to Zimbabwe and the Zambezi River.

Mr Bakwena recalled that during the colonial era, the British had placed a white district commissioner in Lobatse who lived at Boswelatlou Ward to look out for their interests running the state of national affairs.

He recalled a jubilance that ensued on the eve of independence  in 1966 as they gathered at the kgotla where the Union Jack was lowered down and folded and the national blue, black and white flag was hoisted high as a herald of a new dawn. 

At the same time, a melodic composition of national anthem; Fatshe Leno La Rona by the late Kgalemang Motsete was sung with pride for the first time.

He recalled that during the colonial era civil liberties were limited adding that people were not permitted to commune in numbers and to also pray freely, “you had to pray according to how the chiefs wanted, when you go against this you were thrown into jail without trial. I am happy that after independence we became free to worship anyhow we wanted,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Bakwena further recalled that the first 3km tarred road stretch from the railway to the Old Legislative Council was built in Lobatse to be used by the British when they visited Botswana adding that they saw this as cutting edge infrastructure development. 

“Our transport at the time was donkeys and cows then later horses, we had no vehicles,” he said.

As part of the Tuesday itinerary, the public listened to a message from President Advocate Duma Boko delivered by Lobatse District Commissioner Mr Mpho Mathe who  encouraged all to unite as a nation for the betterment of the country.

Lobatse Mayor, Mr Aron Ganakgomo buttressed the need for all to live the ideals of Botswana’s democratic ethos as espoused in the national anthem; Fatshe Leno La Rona. He emphasised the need to build a strong nation, noting the importance of solid family structures, which would in turn be reflected through a prosperous nation. 

He added that preserving peace and security was paramount, as such Batswana must continue to cultivate tenets of democracy. Peleng Court President Kgosi Tebogo Kemoabe said Independence Day provided Batswana the opportunity to come together and celebrate. 

She appreciated Lobatse MP, Mr Kamal Jacobs for his generous donation of 12 cows across the wards in Lobatse, which she said was a noble gesture which all must emulate. ENDS