Most Batswana won't countenance cremation

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday September 27, 2010 00:00

But for most indigenous Batswana, cremation is something that is alien and completely unacceptable.  For many families, it would be a taboo to cremate one of their own.

Only Muslims have become to be associated with cremation in Botswana and elsewhere in the world.

But is cremation the best way to go?  When addressing a Kgotla meeting in Molepolole recently, the Minister of Lands and Housing, Nonofo Molefhi hinted that cremation might be the only option because of shortage of land in the country.  He said cemeteries are taking too much land. 

In a follow up interview, Molefhi said he did not see anything wrong with cremation.   'If we don't cremate, we must bury more than one person in one grave,' he said.

A devout Christian, Molefhi said there is no law in the Bible, which is against cremation.  He does not see anything wrong with the practice.  After Molefhi's meeting, The Monitor spoke to some Bakwena traditionalists to sample their views on cremation. 

Molepolole headman, Rammale Bogatsu told The Monitor he does not know anything about cremation.  'I can't accept it.  It is insensitive,' he said. To him, cremation is something that they would not take at face value. For another Molepolole resident, Gobitsa Tshiamo, cremation is totally unacceptable.  'Even if there is a shortage of land, I don't agree that it should be done in Botswana,' she said. Tshiamo, who is a Christian, wondered whether somebody who has been cremated would be resurrected when Christ returns.  'I don't think he/she can if they had been cremated.'

A retired teacher, Tshimao said if her relative could be cremated, it would be against her wish.  She said if somebody would cremate her child, they would in fact be violating her rights.  'It is not acceptable at all.'

Another Molepolole resident, Sebereki Nthekeng, said, if he died, cremation was not an option for him. According to Nthekeng, cremation does not make sense. 'I don't see any reason why I should cremate my child or parent either. I would rather follow our culture and do what our tradition dictates.

'I would not even allow any of my relatives to be cremated.  If they do the ritual, I would boycott the memorial service,' he said.

The elderly Nthekeng said it was his first time to hear that a Motswana could be cremated in this country.  'I am shocked,' he said.  'I think this is some bad omen.'

He said if he were to cremate one of his own, he would not be giving that person the proper send-off. 'Imagine if I were to be roasted on the pier. We are used to our traditional burial.  I can never be part of that thing. I would not allow it for somebody that I know. It is disgusting.  It is just like running over a person with a car.  I don't think we should adopt what other cultures are doing,' he said.

A member of the Bakweng royal family, Kgosimotse Sebele argued that cremation is not part of Setswana culture. 'We believe in burying our corpses,' he said.

'When you die, we are all mourning. It will be traumatising if you are going to be cremated.'  To him this is a sensitive matter.  'I am totally against cremation.  I don't accept that somebody should be burned.'

It seems it is not only Bakwena who are against cremation. Batlokwa Deputy Paramount Chief, Michael Gaborone does not want to hear anything about cremation. He said it is an alien culture. 'If you are a Motswana, how can you burn your mother? It is not our culture. I don't want to make a comment about this issue. But why should you burn another person? We can't allow that,' he said. 'We are very proud of our culture; it is our children who are adopting foreign concepts,' he said. When he was told that there have been some Batswana who were cremated, Gaborone charged: 'Where do they originate? We are copying from other cultures.'

Gaborone said in their part of the Batlokwa chieftainship, they reject cremation on behalf of the entire tribe. He said this is why they still bury their people in their own backyards. 'If some Batlokwa cremate, they do not have our blessings,' he said.

Although he did not have the figures, the public relations manager of F&SG, the holding company of Lyn's and Kagiso Parlours, Tapologo Kwapa said cremation is not common amongst Batswana. 'But there are some individuals who have done it,' he observed.

F&SG are the only funeral undertakers who are doing cremation in Mahalapye.