Select trees declared national monuments

NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE
Correspondent | Thursday July 19, 2012 00:00

These important trees have been declared National Monuments under the protection of the National Museum and are on the 2012 Monuments Listing. According to Phillip Segadika, Chief Curator at National Museum, certain sites have been declared monuments and are under the protection of the museum. He says anyone who causes any harm to them will be charged for the offence.

Amongst these trees is  the Motswere Postal Tree next to the Railway Bridge in Palapye. Motswere tree (lead wood) has been used as a post from as early as 1902. The Postal tree is a representation of trees being important landmarks in the colonial period and early days after independence. Not by coincidence, it is located next to the railway line as it is said to highlight the role of the railway line in transportation of postal communication during that period. Segadika says the site is a reminder of the Bangwato and colonial residents at Phalatswe, their migration to Serowe and of the growth and early urbanisation signs for present day Palapye.

He said that one of the recently listed trees as a monument is the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Morula Tree near Orapa House, where the party was launched in 1963. The party has been in power through popular vote since 1966.

 'The location is therefore important in recognising the birth of a political party but equally qualifies as a launching pad for celebrating the story of Botswana's achievements,' Segadika noted. One of the plants declared a monument is the Pelotshetlha Lithops also known as Mesembrathemaceae Aizoaceae found near Pelotshetlhana village in Southern District.  Lithops is a genus of succulent plants from the ice plant family, Aizoaceae.  They are commonly called flowering stones or living stones and are true mimicry plants that their shape, size and colour resembles small stones in their natural surroundings. 'Pelotshetlha Lithops are bonical species known in Setswana as Tlhakwana or marago a banyana describing their joined Siamese appearance,' Segadika explained.  According to Segadika, these smooth succulents textured with ridges and warts are rare to find in Botswana and are so far known to occur only in this vulnerable hillside location near Pelotshetlha village in the Southern district. There are many other trees that have been declared monuments but unfortunately, the Mophane wa Seretse tree at Nshakazhokwe along Tutume was destroyed last year before it was listed a monument. Segadika advises Batswana to take care of these monument sites so as to restore the country's history for the benefit of generations to come and tourists visiting Botswana.