In honour of the role played by the Kgaboesele family during the 1960s Mozambican liberation struggle, the government of Mozambique will transform the family's house in Lobatse into a museum.This was said by the Mozambican High Commissioner to Botswana, Fernando Chomar at a recent liberation heritage movement workshop in Kasane.He explained that they were building the family a house to relocate to in order to turn the old house into a Samora Machel monument."We are expecting the groundbreaking to be on December 3 this year," he said. This, he said, was in recognition of the Kgaboesele family's hospitality in accommodating the late Samora Machel, who was a liberation fighter and former President of Mozambique.John Leo Kgaboesele (1910-1975) was the headman of Peleng township Lobatse in Botswana and a nationalist. One of the early leaders of the People's Party and chair of the BPP Lobastse branch. During the early sixties he hosted a young Mozambican refugee, Samora Machel, who later became the first president of Mozambique (1974- 1986). Kgaboesele family used to host Samora Machel during the war of independence against Portugal.After several visits to Lobatse, the Mozambican government bought the late Kgaboesele’s family a double storey home elsewhere.
"They bought the place and got Mrs Florence Kgaboesele a double storey elsewhere,” reported Africa Review in 2013.In fact, it was during former president Armando Guebuza's presidency that Mozambique and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding deciding on the construction of the museum, more precisely in 2011, declared Year Samora Machel, as a tribute to his life and work, 25 years after his tragic death in a plane crash in the hills of Mbuzini, in the neighbouring South Africa.Lobatse, located 70 km from Gaborone, is known for its hospitality in hosting political leaders in exile. Apart from Samora Machel, Nelson Mandela and other ANC heavyweights stayed in Lobatse.The Department of National Museum in collaboration with regional support from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique hosted the Liberation Heritage Movement workshop in Kasane last week.The main aim of the workshop according to the museum curator, Onkgopotse Moseki was to recognise the role played by Botswana in the liberation movement and exchange ideas on how to manage liberation heritage sites.Among the countries which used Botswana as a route include freedom fighters from South Africa, Lesotho, Angola Namibia and Mozambique.Still at the workshop, countries exchanged ideas on how to look after and care for liberation heritage monuments and history.It was also stated that monuments have a purpose since they were a reminder of what happened and a tribute to the departed heroes and fallen countrymen."Monuments also have the ability to leave a lasting legacy," said Dr Ndahafa Jijiuongua from Namibia.She complained that some graves of fallen heroes were not being looked after, and suggested that dead comrades should be recognised and be buried in a fitting environment through regional cooperation.Moseki said Botswana contributed in the liberation struggle by offering refuge to freedom fighters such as the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa.Mandela passed through the Kazungula ferry on his way to Tanzania and similarly, Mr Sam Nujoma, who was the first black president of Namibia, was also accommodated in Blue Town in Francistown's 'White House.'He said Kazungula gave birth to all the liberation movements in the region as it was used as a crossing point en route to Zambia.The High Commissioner of Namibia to Botswana, Mbapeua Muvangua thanked Botswana for welcoming the Namibians as they escaped from German colonisation in 1904.He said there were even Namibians who now have Botswana citizenship.The newly launched Kazungula liberation heritage monument stands as a symbol of acknowledging Botswana's role in regional liberation struggles.
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