01 Oct 2020

As Botswana turned 54, this year’s independence celebrations unlike in the past were celebrated under sombre mood due to COVID-19 pandemic.  

There were no gatherings at village kgotlas nor any event at any public places except for some few activities in Gaborone organised by the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture development and aired on NOWTv and Btv.

The interzonal travel restrictions, meant to curb the spread of corona virus left some people stuck at their places of work. However, all was not lost as some people found a way to celebrate independence.

BOPA conducted interviews in Kanye and caught up  with  Malaki Kamakana (56), a chemist by profession, who said  instead of travelling to his home village, Tsamaya, near Francistown, he had decided to go on fishing expedition at Mmakgodumo dam in Kanye.

Kamakama shared that normally as a way of escaping travels in the current inter-zonal movement restrictions, he resorted not to apply for travel permit but rather hung out with his friend and went fishing that is especially favorable to current social distancing restriction.

He said, he had resorted to take heed of health protocol messages of minimising movement with the aim of reducing exposure and risks of contracting coronavirus.

He said, spending time in the aquatic nature allowed him to distress and rewind after long week of work.

“Fifty four years ago Botswana gained its Independence, Fifty three years ago Batswana voted for the first time, where, a freshly coined democratic Parliament was formed which has taken us to where we are today,” he noted.

He said as result of this, Botswana had since then become the country of note, blessed with visionary leaders who rose from the bottom rung of poverty to an aspiring high income status it is today.

Kamakama said there was need for all Batswana to celebrate as through independence Botswana has been at liberty to determine the future of its people, with most successes notable as a country of note with high regard for education, health and development.

He said, the country through its visionary leaders had done exceptionally well in developing the country and its people, which called for massive celebrations.

Kamakana said although the country was still under state of emergency there was to instill the need to remind ourselves and also teach the future generation so that they could be patriots and have the drive to love and protect the interest of their country.

Speaking with another fisher, at Moshupa Dam, Takudzwa Chinguwo (38) originally from Zimbabwe said, with the current measures on social distancing, he has decided to do fishing as it is a better option of complying with the restrictions.

He said fishing was also more relaxing and accords him the opportunity to rewind and  introspect.

Chinguwo acknowledged that although he was a Zimbabwean origin, he believed that the spirit of solidarity and triumph among Batswana, were the qualities that have carried Botswana to where it is today.

He said because of this Botswana had succeeded to where it was today, which indeed called for  celebrations, and for other countries to follow suite and emulate. ENDS