Seretse honoured in Tutume

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Thursday March 20, 2008 00:00

Without the expertise of preserving a historical site, a volunteer from the village in 2006 preserved the site where it is strongly believed the late President, Sir Seretse Khama, used to take a rest whilst visiting areas within the Tutume Sub District. 'In the past as Khama toured some of his villages in the Bokalaka area, he and his entourage would rest at that place before proceeding with their trip,' explained the village elder, Isaac Mosweu in a recent interview with Mmegi. Khama did not make it once leaving the villagers with an impression that he enjoyed the shade and the privacy that the area provided then. That was before man disturbed the natural environment by constructing the Nskakazhogwe-Tutume road, which left the area more exposed than before.

The area used to provide a natural campsite for a wide team of people travelling to their preferred destinations. It was not guarded or preserved in any way as there was no fear that it could be destroyed as the villagers say there were few activities that could threaten the environment then. There is a natural pool of water, or mogobe, which holds water for a long time after the rains called Malige.  All sorts of animals frequent this pool of water day and night to drink. Just by the roadside, and on the right, from Tutume, Mosweu has made marks that have made the preserved tree more visible. Called Mpani wa Seretse in Sekalaka, roughly translated, it means 'Seretse's Mophane Tree'.

There are so many Mophane trees in the area, but what makes this one unique is that whilst greenish leaves are beaming with life, part of it has almost dried forcing some of its branches to fall off. There is evidence that the tree has aged compared to the rest around it. It bears some scars suggesting that some branches have either fallen off or were chopped down by wood harvesters.

There is a white board inscribed Mpani wa Seretse, which defines the importance of the area to passersby. The area around this tree is encircled by white painted stones. Disused tyres bearing the national flag colours of blue, white and black partly decorate the area. To further signify the importance of the area, council yellow monsters clearing the area of some unwanted vegetation spared the Mpane wa Seretse recently bringing hope of the area's recognition by the authorities.

It provides a convenient resting place for motorists and other road users. It is situated in one of the quietest places where one can enjoy the singing of the birds and the unpolluted atmosphere from the fires in the other active parts of the village. At the back of this huge tree, the volunteer has fashioned out a traditional kgotla perhaps to show respect for the former Bamangwato paramount chief who used to rest there.

The late Khama was not only the state president, he was also a paramount chief of one of the country's largest tribe, the Bangwato.In support of the villagers' course, the Tutume Sub District Council has put a rubbish bin so that visitors to this site do not litter the area. There is ample evidence that people do visit the place as the rubbish bin was on this day filled up with all sorts of empty beverage cans and empty take away packs from various food outlets.

The empty food packages of KFC, Nandos, Chicken Licken and others also defined the type of visitors frequenting this place. 'What used to be a big Mophane tree at that place was partly destroyed by those who harvest the delicious phane or caterpillar. Inside a tshimo fence behind the big tree is a kopjie which forms part of the big resting place,' explains Mosweu.

Mosweu explains that he volunteered to preserve the area after considering that it is places like this that could not only put the village on the map, but could also monetarily benefit the village in a big way. 'We can turn the historical site into a money spinner by developing the place into a tourist attraction of course with the guidance of the experts. After preserving the area about two years ago, Mosweu has handed it to the village chieftainship and the Village Development Committee (VDC) and 'I gave them the possible benefits from a layman's point of view'.

He urges the villagers to take care of the site as it can turn their little known village into a popular one. Nshakazhogwe village chief, Kgetsi Mudongo concurs with Mosweu on the story of Mpani wa Seretse. Although he does not remember very well the exact date Khama used to rest at the place he says it is decades ago. Seretse died in 1980 and nearly three decades later what used to be his resting place is still there. He thanked Mosweu for his feat when no one was interested in preserving the place.

'I am only worried that the village community is moving slowly in bringing better ideas as to how to preserve the area,' he says, promising that the village leadership would do something to ensure success of the project. Mudongo told Mmegi that he was taking advantage of the village gatherings to sell the idea to the villagers so that they can own it. Area councillor, Phumula Tema was excited that what the villagers started two years ago was getting somewhere. 'In 2006, one of the villagers took the initiative to preserve the site during the country's 40th anniversary of independence. We have been tossing ideas about this place as we want to develop it into an attractive tourist site,' he says promising to contribute closely.

A village elder, Isaac Maganu, says he has always known that the general direction of the site is where Khama used to rest. He was also excited that the site has the potential of bringing fame to the sleepy village.

Historian and Presidential spokesperson Dr. Jeff Ramsay says it could be true that Khama used to rest near Nshakazhogwe but 'I am unable to deduce off my head if at all Khama used to rest there and I will find out anyway'. Efforts to solicit comment from the National Museum Monuments and Art Gallery were unsuccessful.  In an earlier interview an officer from this department explained that they were aware mainly of the baobab trees that are preserved in that area.