14 Jul 2026

Debswana has invested P1.7 million at Mmalekwa Cultural Heritage Site, through the development of a heritage centre. Mmalekwa site is the final resting place for Bangwaketse chiefs, forefathers, missionaries, and colonial administrators.

Speaking at the official handover of the centre to Kanye District Council and Mmalekwa Trust Committee on Friday, Jwaneng Mine general manager, Goitseone Gadifele stated that the main objective was about preserving a story that belongs to Bangwaketse. 

It is also to preserve the legacy of the past leaders, celebrate their contributions and protect the place with the dignity and respect it deserved. History such as this cannot and should never be forgotten,” he said. 

Development he said, was not only about infrastructure, but also entailed protecting identity, preserving local culture and ensuring that stories of the forefathers continued to inspire generations to come.

He indicated that the project contributed to Botswana’s aspirations of growing cultural and heritage tourism as part of economic diversification.

“Heritage sites such as Mmalekwa tell stories that are uniquely ours, when they are protected and promoted, they attract visitors, support local businesses, create jobs and strengthen community pride, in doing so, they remind us that preserving our past can also create opportunities for the future,” he said. 

Gadifele stated that the site had been designed to serve both the heritage site and the community. 

The centre comprise a mini hall for meetings, educational activities and community gatherings, a dedicated library space to preserve knowledge and encourage learning, a kitchen and cafeteria to support visitors and events, ablution facilities as well as a kiosk that creates opportunities for enterprise.

He said the heritage site created opportunities beyond heritage preservation, as it provided Mmalekwa Trust Committee with a platform to generate sustainable revenue, create employment opportunities and support the ongoing maintenance and preservation of the important heritage site.

One of the tribesmen, Edward Dibeela said Britain, Rhodesia and South African soldiers as well as Tom Brown who translated dictionary into Setswana were been buried at Mmalekwa.

Mmalekwa Trust Committee Secretary Mr Ofentse Solomon said they took a decision to debush, develop and register Mmalekwa heritage site plot with landboard to pave the way for developments.

The aim, he said was to develop a cemetery digital library and a florist shop or a restaurant at the site. The committee is awaiting a design from Botswana International University of Science and Technology to assist in dividing the cemetery in to eight divisions.

He further indicated that some of the past leaders buried at the site included Richard Rowland who was the road contractor and water reservoir builder, Sejelo Gaseitsewe whom the Sejelo Police Station is named after and missionaries who used to travel between Kanye and Ghanzi on a donkey cart. ENDS