Preserve national heritage, don�t demolish relic buildings - Khama

Thalefang Charles | Thursday December 24, 2015 10:37

 

The house, which was built in 1918 by Sekgoma II’s father Khama III is situated on the foothill of Serowe Hill behind the Bangwato main kgotla.

The owner of the house Sekgoma II was the father of Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana and the grandfather of the current president Ian Khama. 

It is believed that this is the house that Seretse Khama was born in. For the years the house was abandoned and dilapidated. 

Speaking at the event Director of National Museums and Monuments Gaogakwe Phorano said, “The Sekgoma II project was part of the 100 Monuments Campaign that has been ongoing since 2009.” 

He said the house was declared a national monument because of its age, architecture and the history it is associated with. 

“Other houses that have been refurbished and preserved are the Jail House in Francistown and Bathoen house in Kanye,” said Phorano.

Phorano further said that his Department would do research about Sekgoma II and find artifacts to place inside the house for tourists to learn more about Sekgoma II.

For his part the curator of Khama III Memorial Museum Scobbie Lekhutile said although Sekgoma II’s reign was very short he made key developments in the village. 

He cited the Bangwato Royal Cemetery as the idea of Sekgoma II. 

Lekhutile said after his Khama II death morafe wanted to continue their long tradition of burying their Kgosi in the kraal but Sekgoma fought hard to convince morafe to accept his new idea of burying their departed Kgosi at a royal cemetery. 

President Khama applauded the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism for their work on identifying, preserving and protecting the history of Botswana. 

He told the people of Serowe that they must never repeat the mistake they did with the Colonial Resident’s Commissioner’s house that was demolished to give way for developments. 

“You have made a big mistake by demolishing the Colonial Resident’s Commissioner’s House. It must never happen again. You must preserve these buildings because they are our national heritage,” Khama advised. 

The Sekgoma II House refurbishment project was done in collaborations between the National Museums, Department of Buildings and Malwelamotse Regiment.