National Museum celebrates 40th anniversary

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Tuesday February 19, 2008 00:00

 

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Moeng Pheto officially launched the anniversary at the museum premises in Gaborone last week.  The commemoration is being held under the theme: Museum as Agents of Social Change and Development, which is also used by the International Council of Museums. The national museum was established in Gaborone in 1967 through an Act of Parliament as a non-profit making organisation under a board of trustees accountable to the Minister of Home Affairs. Three years later it was broadened and went through different changes until recently being moved to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.  

Speaking at Cresta Lodge during a press briefing last Friday, national museum director Gaogakwe Phorano said the celebrations' theme was appropriate for the museum because it enabled them to take stock.

'We have to formulate our dreams and aspirations for the future as the nation moves towards the National Development Plan 10 (NDP-10) and the attainment of Botswana' Vision 2016,' he said. Some of the major events to be part of the museum's celebrations are International Museum Day in May, President's Day in July and finally the 40th anniversary commemoration in September.

Phorano said in May, the museum will be launching a revamped radio programme, Motswedi wa Ditso, as well as the news letter, Zebras' Voice, with incisive articles.
He further stated that during the President's Day celebrations, the museum would expand its annual national Art and Craft Exhibition by showcasing the work of Botswana's most skilled craftspeople including basketry, pottery, woodwork, textiles, weaving and musical instruments. Also the month of July will be declared Culture and Heritage month and the museum will organise a range of exhibitions and activities. During the September 40th anniversary celebrations, an exhibition dubbed 'Museum at 40 Exhibition' will be showcased. It will display who and what made the national museum the institution it is today, said Phorano. He pointed out that there is need to re-launch Friends of the Museum, a society that aims at assisting the museum in its various facets, through fundraising and organising exhibitions. He asserted that during its active period, the society tremendously helped the museum but now there is a gap felt.  The museum director admitted that as a multi- disciplinary institution, they are faced with daunting challenges but they are trying hard to keep the livelihood of the national museum. It has emerged that the museum lacks experienced skilled personnel, there is a lot of vandalism of heritage areas and budget constrains. 

'In some developed museums elsewhere, security is a top priority but we do not have that here,' he lamented. He is concerned that some artefacts are being easily destroyed or stolen because of lack of security. He explained that this is so because they do not have enough money to install security surveillance facilities. He expressed worry that even their storerooms are not up to standard to keep some artefacts, which need a certain temperature. They are urging Batswana to help government conserve culture.
Nonetheless, he mentioned that the national museum has achieved much since its inception despite the challenges. To mention a few, he said they were able to conserve 80 percent of their collected artefacts at the museum. He also cited the three chiefs' monument in the new Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) as one of their achievements. He indicated that the monument shows Botswana's history and they are very proud to have it erected.