20 October 2008
editorial
We will not enter into a war of words with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport or the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, following a controversial press conference held recently to explain the state of Tsodilo Hills and Gcwhihaba Caves.
These are two of the country's most attractive tourist destinations recently ravaged by veldt fires.
However, a number of important questions beg to be answered. The officials who addressed the media did not seem to know what they were talking about. They are supposed to be authorities on the subject.
We were expecting the museum authorities to tell how much damage the fires have caused. Instead they come with empty denials and contradictions that leave us wondering whether the officials were there to tell us the truth or to cover it up.
For the director of museum to be heard saying that there is no vegetation but only sand at the Gchwihaba caves, and then hear him contradict himself admitting that the area around the caves burnt, was astonishing to say the least.
The director of museums and monuments flew out to Tsodilo last week Monday with his team. On his return, he claims that if they had funds, they would have taken the media to the sites to see for themselves. What a hypocrisy!
It is the director of museums who earlier confirmed to us in an interview that the Tsodilo Hills caught fire and that it had spread up the hills. In their latest interview, it has become clear that in fact the fire affected all three hills and the grandchild. What is even more worrying is the fact that the director of museums flatly refutes a report by the district coordinator for Maun, who confirmed to us after a helicopter visit, that the Gchwihaba caves were burning.
Surely, if the government officials were serious about their job, they should have treated this matter differently. Addressing the media in the comfort of boardrooms in Gaborone has not solved anything. It has only succeeded in raising suspicions and fuelling speculation.
We must state that we are as proud about Botswana and its heritage sites as are the people entrusted to oversee those sites. It is our love for the sites that has driven us to seek evidence not only from the museum officials, but also from the Department of Forestry.
Now is not the time for arguments. Every effort must be made to protect the Tsodilo Hills and Gchwihaba Caves.
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