Mineral revolution started in F/town - Masisi
Ryder Gabathuse | Tuesday April 2, 2019 12:29
Speaking at the first anniversary of his presidency, Masisi implored Francistowners to celebrate that part of their history and, however, stressed that any revolution has casualties.
“You have been casualties of the mining revolution and continue to be casualties as you don’t have land,” Masisi said to loud applause from his audience. He said amongst early miners who came to exploit their land was the man Daniel Francis after whom the city is named.
He said Francis came under the guise of the Tati Company, which today owns large chunks of land in the city and around it. Masisi said he chose to celebrate with Francistowners because they are survivors of the mining revolution casualties.
President Masisi was inaugurated last year April, 1, as the fifth state President and he then chose to come to the north to celebrate the anniversary.
He said he decided to address a kgotla meeting in Tonota just for the reason that he grew up in Tonota being a small and insignificant village.
He said Tonota was only significant in that at some stage it had produced three state ministers at the same time when other villagers could not produce even one.
“So, I thought I should just come and have time with Bakhurutshe and then in the afternoon we just celebrate together, as this celebration is your celebration.”
He told the anniversary guests that he was proud of Francistowners against all that they had suffered and afflictions and consequences of a brutal revolution.
“When your land was taken away from you, you changed, refreshed and renewed yourselves, you survived it. Now the city has produced some of the most laudible, remarkable human capital, this country has known.”
Masisi felt that Francistown is not sufficiently acknowledged and perhaps even more worryingly: “This town is not sufficiently perceived in the context of the potential that lies around it”.
For over 100 years, Masisi said Francistown has been providing access to Zambia, Zimbabwe and other destinations in the north. He hailed Francistown as the capital of the aviation industry and the only place where a major air disaster took place.
He said Francistown was the first to be raided by the hostile, arrogant white minority, and its illegitimate white forces when people were still enjoying themselves at the Mophane Club amongst others.
“You are the town that transited the icons of the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. I am saying all these because they make a meaning to me.”
If the economy could improve for the better Masisi’s government has vowed to correct past imbalances.
The President was outright that landlessness ought to be corrected.
“You deserve a lot more than that and in correcting; you ought to be very smart because we want to frogleap into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and ICT, which is reserved for people without land like yourselves.”
He highlighted that Francistown ought to be one of the most strategic conduit, logistical hub and nerve centre for not only production of goods and services from Botswana, but even to our neighbour in the south enroute to the rest of Africa.
He challenged the leadership of the city to make a more impactful difference in bestowing Francistown growing city status.