Riding On Seretse Khama's Legacy To Boost Tourism

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday June 28, 2010 00:00

The chairperson of the National Organising Committee (NOC), Keitire Keforilwe Mogasha told The Monitor that the project has been cooking for the last eight years. 'We do not have resources, our revenue is sourced from members of the community; each ward contributes P100, we also get contributions from dikgosi and committee members,' he said in a telephone interview from Serowe.

Plans are at advanced stage to host a big day in Serowe, the birth place of Sir Seretse Khama on July 1, with traditional Tswana games like mhele, morabaraba, koi, nxai, dikwaere, traditional dance, art exhibition and a half marathon race on the programme. The marathon course is between Serowe and Mogorosi. There will also be the laying of wreaths at the Bangwato royal cemetery, as well as a visit to Sir Seretse Khama's statue. Registration for participation in traditional games starts today, while playing schedule and traditional games rules will be announced tomorrow. The preliminary rounds are scheduled to start tomorrow as well with the finals following on Wednesday.

The draft programme shows that the Serowe Kgotla will be a hive of activity on Thursday - Sir Seretse Khama Day - as morafe will gather there with traditional groups entertaining the people.

The highlight of the day will be the arrival of the Khama family at 9.30am. The District Commissioner, Bangwato regent Sediegeng Kgamane, and Palapye leader Klass Motshidisi, will also be among the speakers on the day, while President Ian Khama will award prizes as the paramount chief of Bangwato, alongside the Central District Council (CDC) chairman. According to the organisers of the Serowe event, the purpose of the project is to transform the Sir Seretse Khama public holiday into a vibrant and viable internationally recognised event. They say the goal will be achieved by designing, building and operating a modern tourism attraction event to further enhance Botswana's international image as tourist destination.

In future the organisers hope to host events such as a desert endurance race and cross-country  rallies involving foot, bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles, and others. Other big sporting events will be hosted in various towns in the medium to long-term  as part of  celebrating Sir Seretse Khama's legacy, the organisers say. Sir Seretse Khama died on July 1, 1980.