No Boipuso fests for Tlokweng, Ramotswa
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 4, 2022 06:00
The last independence celebrations were held in 2019.
This is because the South East District Council (SEDC) had no funds for the independence celebration. In Ramotswa, residents gathered at the main kgotla, as usual, to listen to the presidential speech and also to watch different village choirs (dikhwaere) entertain the crowds.
It was a norm before COVID-19 that different wards held their celebrations where communities would slaughter cows and goats for people to feast on in the spirit of unity.
Asked to comment on the matter, South East South Sub-district Council chairperson Semakaleng Sebogodi said they did not have celebrations in their wards because of lack of funds. “Our chief [Kgosi Mosadi Seboko] helped us by providing some snacks to residents who came for the presidential speech. Le wena wa bona gore dikhwaere tsa rona di tsile go natifisa letsatsi le ka moopelo,” Sebogodi said.
“We hope that next year things will be better and we are going to celebrate in our wards. Independence Day brings us together as Batswana and that is why it is important to be able to have lunch together.” She added that councils usually do have a budget for the day but this time around, things had been different. Meanwhile, in Gaborone different wards celebrated the day in style.
At Boseja ward, which includes Block 6 and Block 7, they ensured that they have tents, children's activities, and food for the day. According to area councilor, Khumo Sebereko, the council had given them P10,000 and different companies also helped with funds for the day to be successful. “Celebration for Block 6 and 7 have gone so well and people were happy because it has been two years since we celebrated the day. People still respect independence celebration events and their meaning.
Again, we thank the companies that supported us.” For his part, Gaborone City Council's (GCC) Mayor, Austin Abraham said his council had a budget for independence and each ward was given P10,000 through the Ward Development Committee (WDC).
“The reports from different wards are very impressive. We had found it important for the day to be celebrated by looking at what people had gone through in the last two years. All the 38 WDCs have held successful Independence Day celebrations which we are thankful for as GCC,” he said.