Moretlwa: A natural resource to be treasured by all

MATTHEWS ALEMARUMO* | Thursday April 11, 2013 00:00

 

According to Van Wyk B., Van Wyk P., Van Wyk B., (2008), it is a multi-stemmed shrub or a small tree up to 4metres tall usually with leafy branches from ground level.The plant has grey to greyish-green leaves, yellow flowers and reddish brown fruits when ripe. It occurs in bushveld and wooded grassland, often in dry areas and on sandy soils. The heavier the soil, the more shrub-like the brandybushes (Venter and Venter, 1996).

In Botswana, its occurrence covers almost all districts of the country except the far North (Setshogo & Venter, 2003). This plant has contributed immensely to Tswana traditional lives. All parts of the plant were and are still very useful to Batswana, demonstrating their rich indigenous knowledge that formed their most valuable cultural believes. According to Venter & Venter (1996), the ripe fruits are eaten by domestic stock, game and birds. In semi-arid areas like the Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Districts, it is considered an important fodder plant when other food is scarce, with preference given to young leaves over mature ones.

For humans, they are eaten fresh, dried for later use or ground into a very delicious meal for porridge, especially if relished with milk. Venter & Venter (1996) reported that the fresh fruit contains 74.7g/100g of moisture and 29.8mg/100g Vitamin C while dried fruit yields 63.8% sugar and 4% protein. The fruits are commonly fermented to make a strong alcoholic beverage (Van Wyk B., Van Wyk P., Van Wyk B., 2008) locally called khadi.

Considering that Batswana from way back have been pastoral farmers, leave extracts were effectively used in expelling a retained placenta, 'motlhana,' in cows. Twigs are chewed and make good toothbrushes. Thick branches were used for making hunting bows and walking sticks while thinner ones were traditionally used for arrow shafts and twirling sticks for making fire by friction. Thinner branches were also used for play sticks called kgai in Setswana.

Most importantly, thinner branches are well known for their use in instilling discipline in delinquent children, thereby contributing immensely to a morally upright Botswana.One can argue that almost all people holding key positions in companies, schools, politics, hospitals, the army, the civil service and all other spheres are who they are because of the use of mainly brandybush whips, be it at home or in school.

The plant has significantly shaped Botswana and influenced the Setswana Language as well. For instance, expressions like 'A moretlwa o lele,' which calls for the use of a Brandybush branch to whip offenders as punishment, are commonplace. To depict disapproval of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships, a young woman would be labelled Moretlwa wa tsela or Moretlwa wa mmamphula ke eme, likening the habit to a Brandybush plant beside the road whose fruits anyone can harvest as they go. Batswana have always been proud of this plant.

This is evident in their description of beautiful Batswana young women such as Morweetsana wa thupa tsa maretlwa in reference to a beautiful woman of a velvet-brown complexion. The tough inner bark, lelodi or bokwetse, is knitted and used as a rope (Van Wyk B., Van Wyk P., Van Wyk B., 2008). The bark is also used in basket weaving. This rope made of it is very useful in tying firewood, roofing grass during harvesting and transportation, joining rafters to pillars in construction of traditional mud houses and tying grass after roofing.

Brandybush is arguably that valuable natural heritage that we need to be proud of as a nation and do all in our power to conserve it. If it means growing it in our backyards, or starting a special plantation for it, that we must do to ensure that this precious resource does not become extinct.  The plant can be found at the National Botanical Garden & National Herbarium at Plot 17991 Okwa Road, The Village, Gaborone. Botswana.

*Matthews Alemarumo works for Botswana National Museum & Monuments