Samora Machel Museum to Celebrate Values of Freedom

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Samora Machel Museum to Celebrate Values of Freedom

1:53 CAT | 08 Dec 2015

In file Club of Mozambique.

The Samora Machel museum that is to be built by the Mozambique government in Lobatse will be used as a symbol of celebrating the values of freedom and independence of nations.

Adviser to Mozambique’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Arnaldo Bimbe said at the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of the state of the art museum in Peleng, Lobatse on December 4. He said the museum would give new meaning to the history of friendship and solidarity between the two nations. He said Samora Machel and John Kgaboesele were great leaders who collaborated to mark the joint act of liberation of Mozambique and consequently the consolidation of the freedom of Botswana.

For the Kgaboesele family to have housed Machel, he said, was a sign of a commitment of a Tswana family to contribute to the building of the two countries. The launch of the museum, he said, bears witness to the desire of wanting to symbolize a gesture made by that family of great value and historical importance understood by today and tomorrow’s generation.

The museum as an institution that acquires records, documents, conserves, researches, exhibits and disseminates the heritage will therefore document the gesture that took place 52 years ago and gave Samora Machel the commitment to the liberation of Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, among other African countries, he said.

Mozambique has a great desire to see Samora Machel being known and recognized in his doings to inspire the youth of Africa and beyond. He said it is in this regard that the two countries technicians and scientists, historians will work together to build the museum, preserve its contents as one of the jewels in the history of Southern African which should make all Africans proud.

For his part, Lobatse’s deputy mayor, Francis Mokwena said the ground breaking ceremony marks the historical path in the lives of Mozambicans as well as Botswana. Mokwena said this is a pivotal point that marks the episode that began in Lobatse as one of its earliest suburbs called Peleng housed African liberation struggle leaders. He said the rationale behind the making of the Kgaboesele family into a museum is to recognize the role played by Botswana in the liberation struggle of Mozambique as well as the entire region. The museum, he said will also enhance collaboration between Botswana and Mozambique, particularly in areas of arts and culture.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Itumeleng said Lobatse is largely known for hosting great people, among them refugees, freedom fighters and the Queen of England Elizabeth II. Though freedom fighters were considered terrorists and fugitives by the then governments, however their people considered them as freedom fighters and heroes who brought hope of self-governance. He said as Tswana families hosted these people compelled by the Tswana tradition of hosting fellows with open hands, little did they know that they are entertaining great statesmen. The museum, he said is a milestone of a journey that was started by Machel and Kgaboesele in Lobatse.

He added that the monument will enhance the aesthetics and landscape of Lobatse as a town and more especially enhance the tourism potential of the town which is virtually untapped.

Source: All Africa