30 Oct 2025

 As a testimony to its committed effort to protect and respect human rights, especially the rights of the deemed marginalised Basarwa, government has swiftly moved to construct a Basarwa human rights monument, in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) at Metsiamanong settlement.

The monument is said to be dedicated to promoting, commemorating and reflecting on the struggle for human rights experienced by the Basarwa community. 

The project, estimated to cost P15 million comprises of two main components being the Basarwa Human rights monument and improvement of the late Gaoberekwe Pitseng’s burial site.

Apprising the Ghanzi District councillors during a special full council recently, the project manager, Tiisang Thokweng, explained that given the current economic and fiscal constraints, the ministry has resolved to implement the project in phases.

He alluded that phase one would be the Pitseng Burial site that would be undertaken in-house using available government resources and skilled personnel.

Thokweng said the second phase would be the construction of the Basarwa Human rights monument to be advanced as resources permits and through partnerships with the business community and other stakeholders.

He however stated that, the project status update details that concept design has been completed awaiting to be presented to the architect and the next stage would be consultations with other stakeholders on the refinement of designs and phased implementation in alignment with available resources.

He emphasised that, the Basarwa communities residing in CKGR would also be fully consulted and all other relevant stakeholders as a way of developing social ownership and promoting active participation.

Meanwhile, the erection of the human rights monument in the CKGR comes to life after two historical events that befell upon the Basarwa community, being the alleged forced 1990’s relocation from the CKGR and the 2021 prolonged and contentious battle between the state and the Gaoberekwe family over the burial of Mr Pitseng Gaoberekwe.

The 2021 clash emerged after the Basarwa descendant, Mr Gaoberekwe was denied burial right at his ancestral land in CKGR on the basis that he was a resident of New Xade.

The late Gaoberekwe, passed away on December 21, 2021 and government had argued that his relocation to New Xade guaranteed it as his appropriate burial site.

However, his family opposed the court ruling and insisted on honouring the late Gaoberekwe’s wish to be buried in the game reserve.

The disagreements complicated burial arrangements until in 2024, when President Advocate Duma Boko was elevated to the helm of government. During his maiden State of Nation Address speech, he announced that government had taken a decision to honour the late Gaoberekwe’s wishes, by burying him in the CKGR at his ancestral land, Metsiamanong.

The state burial was eventually conducted alongside the 2024 commemoration of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2024.

Thus, this year’s Human Rights Day commemoration would also be commemorated again at Metsiamamong, where President Adv. Boko is expected to unveil the monument.

Earlier when presenting the proposal on the government’s decision on the erection of the Basarwa human rights monument, the Director of the Department of National Museum and Monuments, Charles Mojalemotho explained to Ghanzi District councillors that the project was a Presidential directive mainly aligned with the national recognition of Basarwa’s human rights.

He said the initiative would support Botswana’s commitment to inclusivity, recognition and cultural heritage preservations.

Furthermore, Mojalemotho said the monument would stand as a national symbol of recognition and respect for the Basarwa and all communities whose rights and dignity form the foundation of Botswana democracy. Moreover, he said it would also represent a commitment to equality, inclusion and justice, values enshrined in both national and international human rights principles.

For his part, the technical officer, Kabo Sepato also underscored that the proposed monument would serve as a symbolic icon, tourist attraction and a cultural centre. 

He emphasised that the human rights monument would be designed in a manner that would influence an economic value through the development of a heritage trail. The heritage trail, he said, would connect with all gazetted park entries and would also recognise all the settlements around CKGR, where Basarwa are currently living.

Sepato said the proposed heritage trail would consist of an open-air museum at Old Xade, the 189 monument at Molapo; which will display the names of 189 people who signed the petition against the relocation, the human rights monument at Metsiamanong, cultural village at Metsiamanong, the burial site monument at Metsiamanong, the origins/Interpretations Monument at Mothomelo and CKGR museum at a place to be identified. BOPA