11 Mar 2014

Monuments immortalise and provide a unique collective understanding and connection to historical events.

They provide an opportunity for people to rewind and re-live the past. In Kweneng west, one such site of historical importance is the secured monument of the late Kgosi Bonewamang Sechele.

In an interview recently, Mohumagadi Kwenayagae (Mma Kgari Sechele), widow to the late kgosi explained that the place had been secured since Kgosi Bonewamang’s death in 1978. She stated that monuments, just like any other historical site needed protection as they preserved history.

She revealed that the monument which wass located along the Molepolole/Letlhakeng road served as a historical centre which kept information about the past of this nation. She said such historical sites were also an enhancement to the existing natural and cultural features of Kweneng.

Mma Sechele said a historical site like that of the late Kgosi Bonewamang’s monument more importantly enabled communities to understand and preserve history. Generations after generations were going to learn their culture and history from the monument.

Mma Kgari Sechele stated that for the conservation and preservation of historical culture, such monuments needed protection to help sustain them for the benefit of the Kweneng community and Batswana at large.

She said the responsibility of conserving historical sites lies with museums. Mma Sechele further elaborated that with the late Kgosi’s monument, the responsibility of its conservation lies not only with the royal family, but with the community as it is the property of Bakwena.

In her view, monuments are erected to commemorate a notable person. The monument according to Mma-Sechele is in honour of the late Bakwena leader Kgosi Bonewamang Sechele, father to the current Bakwena leader, Kgosi Kgari Sechele III.

She said the monument was developed through assistance from Kweneng west youth in 2011 and pensioners from Molepolole and was handed to the royal family after refurbishment in 2012.

The late Kgosi Bonewamang became the chief representative of Letlhakeng from 1959-1970. In October 1970, he took over as Bakwena Kgosi Kgolo and his reign was cut short by a fatal accident that took his life along the Molepolole/Letlhakeng road.

Mohumagadi Mma Sechele expressed her appreciation and excitement regarding the monument. She paid a glowing tribute to Kweneng west youth who had a significant contribution towards refurbishing the late leader’s monument.