12 Sep 2017

Despite challenges of electricity connection, the community of Tsetseng has not given up on the idea of being a step ahead on biodiversity. 

The community strongly believes that with electricity or any alternative source of renewable energy such as solar, they would have long fulfilled their wish of being pioneers of environmental conservation. 

The sun was just about to set as the BOPA team approached Ms Direemang Kgolo’s yard, in Tsetseng, a village located east of Letlhakeng in the Kweneng District and 40 kilometres north east of Kang. 

It is from our brief interaction with Ms Kgolo that we learn she is also the chairperson of the village’s community trust whose formation dates back to 2000. 

Ithuseng Community Development Trust harvests wild plants for consumption and medicinal purposes. 

Initially we were after her trail having been told that she was the deputy chairperson of the Village Development Committee should we wish to gather any information related to village developments. 

For someone who greeted members of the media with ease, she made us feel at home, as the team continued to throw around questions that could help us in pursuit of human interesting stories. 

Having been actively involved with Ithuseng trust since its formation, Ms Kgolo confidently speaks from the back of her mind how the trust came to being. 

However, it is not by choice that the most part of her conversation dwells more on the challenges that have stalled growth of a trust that has been in existence for more than 15 years. 

A Community trust that the villagers believe will have turned their plight around. 

As she shares the story, her passion and confidence about the trust easily drives one to picture how indeed electricity could have given the trust the much needed big boost. 

This extends to how electricity connection would have ignited developments that will bring positive transformations to their village. 

In a 61x61 plot allocated to the 10 member committee trust, a wild plant orchard has been set up to preserve plants, some of which have started to become scarce in the area. They have also incorporated those plants found in other parts of the country. 

The orchard, is populated by a variety of trees and shrubs among them moretlwa, mokgomphatha (wild berries), sengaparile (devils claw), tshuwe (produces tea leaves), morula, motsentsela, mosumo, motopi and kgwengwe. Given the village’s location away from resources, it is clear the villagers want to turn around their situation by doing all they could to alleviate poverty in their community. 

“Tsetseng is far from resources and we are trying to fight poverty by being independent. We do not want to rely too much on government,” said Ms Kgolo. 

The trust has also been allocated a 10 hector plot which they wished to sub divide so they could plant more indigenous trees, build a cultural village and engage in beekeeping to cater for tourism ventures. 

“Our dream is big. We want to include a range as well but we are not winning,” she said as she directs our attention towards the 12 solar panels which are currently stashed in a room serving as an office. 

Apparently the solar panels collapsed after being installed and they were provided by Forest Conservation Botswana (FCB) who has also helped in drilling the borehole. 

She said the solar panels were their source of hope towards a dream that is failing to unfold. A printer donated by BOCOBONET is also still intact in the box to protect it from dust. 

Due to lack of electricity connection, the trust cannot enjoy its intended purpose. 

Despite all the challenges, Ms Kgolo is optimistic of the future, “Batho ba Tsetseng ba kabo ba tswa mo lehumeng. 

Mathata ke ditlamelo. Re nyoretswe go hetlha ditiro,” she said as she recalled a number of organisations that have played a major role towards the establishment of the trust.

 They include Veld Products Research and Development, an NGO located in Gabane, BOCOBONET and the then Botswana College of Agriculture. 

“When people from Veld Products Research and Development visited our village in search of Sengaparile, tshuwe and moretlwa, they realised how knowledgeable we were when it comes to wild plants. We will harvest what they wanted and they will buy from us,” she said. 

Through the Botswana College o Agriculture, the trust was able to secure a 61x61 plot, as well as ensuring that a structure serving as office space, storage and workshop are built. The package included fencing, water connection and supply of trees as a start up. 

“Not only did they encourage us to form a trust when they realised how the area had abundant wild plants. They also taught us the importance of conserving nature.” 

For an area that has morama in abundance, the community had a number of ways through which they could benefit from its beans. Among them is extracting oil from the bean for production of healthy oil which is said to be rich in mono and di-saturated fatty acids as it does not contain cholesterol. 

Ms Kgolo said to extract oil from the beans; they were relying on the machine which has been waiting to be serviced after it broke in 2016. 

She said not much can be said about the machine which is currently gathering dust as it is manual and laborious hence does not produce desired results on time. 

“We take three days to draw oil from the beans after they have been taken out from their shells and that process can easily take a day if modern machinery is availed,” she said. 

She explained that for the 750ml of oil which sells for P100, the trust could be making a killing, generating income that sustains the community as the market for their product was not a challenge. 

If electricity was available, she said this will also make it easier for the trust to purchase the much needed refrigerator which plays an important role once the oil has been processed. 

“The trust had plans to take advantage of products from morama beans which include flour, milk and coffee as they are very health given their richness in protein and energy,” she explained however noting another shortcoming of funds which makes it difficult for them to have their products tested for nutritional content. 

“We were to take our products to National Food Technology Research Centre in Kanye to have them processed and tested for nutritional advice. We cannot do that because of lack of funds,” the energetic Ms Kgolo said. 

While the trust has great ideas and inventions, the idea to patent such has not crossed their minds. Should their concerns of electricity or any source of energy be answered, the trust is ready to introduce their products to the world given a number of individuals they already sell to. 

“We will seek advise on what patenting entails. We have plenty of sengaparile (devils claw) and Mahupu which we harvest and sell,” she said. 

She described Mahupu as belonging to the family of mushrooms and that it can be eaten while fresh or dried adding that it is often mixed with other vegetables to make a nutritious soup. 

Kweneng District Commissioner Dr Temba Mmusi commended Tsetseng community for their efforts by trying to engage in sustainable projects. 

“They are anxious to get out of poverty through their trust. The intention is to write to Office of the President to see how they can be funded through the Poverty Eradication Programme,” he said. 

He said the funds will go towards among others purchasing of a modern machine ideal for morama production adding, “the village has no electricity. If funded, generators can be purchased for them.” Dr Mmusi further noted that his office was acting on behalf of the trust to see how the solar panels could be restored. ENDS