The Statue of Sir Seretse Khama
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Even the name of this individual eluded both Alec Campbell and Mike Main in their Guide to Greater Gaborone and Patricia Farrow in her Gaborone, The Complete City Guide. But Botswana tourism was more informative stating that, ‘the statue was sculpted by British artist Norman Pearce, and cast in Britain, then flown to Botswana for its unveiling.
Fine. But who was Norman Pearce? Efforts to find out anything about the man drew a blank. He proved to be strangely invisible which, in itself, was very odd. So, frustrated, I sought the help of my research sleuth resident in London, the old Kalahari hand, Johnny Gumb, who finally cracked the puzzle.
While his leadership has brought about significant progress and development, it is imperative that he exercises greater caution in his choice of words, particularly when addressing sensitive matters.One of the primary concerns is the potential impact of his remarks on Botswana’s relationship with De Beers, the diamond mining giant that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy.The partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been mutually...