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Botswana: Khama's Statue Turns West
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Gasebalwe Seretse
The controversial statue of the first president, Sir Seretse Khama, in front of the National Assembly is being cleaned and turned to face Parliament buildings. The bronze statue, which some argue does not bear true resemblance to Khama was erected in 1986. It was supposed to be visible from the Main Mall and 'face the people'.
The clerk of Parliament, Ernest Mpofu, has said it is the wish of the political leaders that the statue should face Parliament. "It is normal practice in other countries that statues of leaders face Parliament buildings," explained Mpofu.
He said he does not recall any time the public was consulted when the National Museum did something with a national monument. Mpofu pointed out that the cleaning and moving of the statue is part of a larger project as government is currently engaged in developing what is going to be called Parliament Square.
He added that the project is going to cost millions of Pula as government is going to secure state-owned buildings around Parliament and turn them into part of Parliament Square. Other projects will include the refurbishment of the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi building and the erection of a perimeter fence around Parliament to make it more secure.
Mpofu said that at the moment, they are doing 'the grounds' besides working on the statue. The work includes paving Parliament building area, trimming trees and general cleaning that will cost over P800,000.
The former chairman of the organising committee that oversaw the erection of the statue, Lebang Mpotokwane expressed disappointment about the new developments.
"It is symbolic that the statue is facing east as that represented the rising of our young nation Botswana.
"Those who are making the changes should have consulted with us first because almost all the members of the committee are alive," said Mpotokwane. He added that one of the reasons why the statue was made to face east was that it overlooked the Main Mall which is bustling with life. Opposition Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Dumelang Saleshando told Mmegi that President Festus Mogae approached MPs at the all-party caucus with the proposal of turning the statue around. The caucus concurred with him.
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"Although at first the intention was to have the statue face the Main Mall, we felt that this no longer served the purpose as there are some trees in the area that have overgrown obstructing the sight from the mall," said Saleshando. Specially Elected MP Botsalo Ntuane says that he does not have any problem with the new development, as it is a purely administrative issue. He declined to comment further.
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