The 'forgotten village'

KENNETH BANDA
Correspondent | Friday October 26, 2007 00:00

 

This is because after more than century of existence, Tobane still remains an obscure and little noticed village. 

There is hardly any economic activity in the village and most of the estimated 3,000 residents Commute to and from Selebi-Phikwe where many of them are employed. A resident, Kgosana Godfrey Manowe says Tobane is a Batlokwa village founded by people fleeing South Africa during the tribal wars in the 1800s. The people of Tobane first settled in Shoshong with Bangwato and then moved to Serorome (present day Palapye) before migrating to Makome near Mmadinare in 1901.

After some time, the group was on the move again, settling west of the Tobane River.

They then crossed to the present day site, east of the Tobane River in the early 1900s.

Manowe says the village was named after the Tobane River, which was in existence before the Batlokwa settlers arrived. He says some of them went back to South Africa when the group migrated from Palapye to Makome.

Tobane chief, Julia Nametshego Nengu Motlhasedi her people are Batlokwa baga MmaChaka and differ from those who settled in Tlokweng because their totem is Kgama. Those in Tlokweng use Tlhakadu.

'The Kgama (wild animal) used to erase traces of the clan when it fled from the tribal wars in South Africa. It became difficult for their clan's enemies to follow,' Motlhasedi says.

Batlokwa are found in various parts of South Africa in Tzaneen, Palaborwa, Pietersburg and Blueburg.

Motlhasedi says initially, Tobane was a village, which believed in Christianity and the dominant denomination, was the London Missionary Society, now known as the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA).

Sadly, she says, that is changing because the village, like any other in most African societies, has suffered moral degeneration.

Kgosana Gabanapelo Tabothwa of Monakane ward says moral decay has led to an upsurge in crime.

He says the Tobane of these days is a dangerous place to live in. 'Criminals have taken over this village. Our livestock are stolen everyday. Just a few days ago, I was a victim.

We don't even know where to hide,' Tabothwa says. He says crime will not be eradicated as parents are also to blame. 'We accept stolen goods that our children bring. How can this stop when we as parents embrace it?'.

Kgosi Motlhasedi says there are three local police officers and the government has promised to deploy eight special constables to help fight crime.

Rakwadi says illegal immigrants have flooded the village. The immigrants entering Botswana through un-gazetted points, find refuge in villages like Tobane.

'Illegal immigrants commit crime just like youths in this village. We (villagers) have made the police's work difficult, because we harbour these illegal immigrants,' he says.

Rakwadi believes that the promotion (and glorifying) of human rights has led to a generation that is carefree and difficult to control.

'We have realised the issue of human rights is taken too far and the state concurs with the present situation. It is difficult to discipline children because they tell you about their rights,' Rakwadi says.

He says elderly people are left to participate in community activities while the youth while away time in bars. Like any other village, Tobane faces a problem of orphans as a result of the HIV/AIDS.

Although the village has been devoid of any significant economic activity, it is expected to spring to life with the establishment of a mine just four kilometers away.

The small-scale mine will see the extraction of semi-precious stones used in the making of tiles and tombstones among others.

The mine is expected to be operational next year with an initial labour force of 70 people, mostly drawn from the village.

Tobane is Selebi-Phikwe's dormitory village and hundreds of its youth flock to the mining town in search of employment.

Unlike some villages, like Sefhope, which face perennial water shortages, Tobane boasts a good supply and an excellent road network. The recent completion of a 20km tarred road from Selebi-Phikwe has raised the village's status.

Previously, it was a nightmare to drive to the village and most people relied on four-wheel drive vehicles. During the rainy season, the village could be cut-off from Selebi-Phikwe if Tobane River bursts its banks. But this has changed with the construction of a bridge over the river.