16 Feb 2022

Preparations are underway to mount a statue to honour Kgosi John Madawu Nswazwi of Nswazwi village in the Central District.

Kgosi Nswazwi was their traditional leader from 1910 to 1945 before and after he banished himself together with some of his people to Jetjeni, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) following a dispute with Kgosi Tshekedi Khama of Bangwato over allegations of lack of tax payment.

The late Kgosi Nswazwi took the reigns of Ba-Ka-Nswazwi from his father, Kgosi Kuswani Nswazwi, in 1910 and died in 1960 in Zimbabwe at the age of 85.

His remains were exhumed from Jetjeni and reburied in Nswazwi in Botswana in 2002 in a reconciliatory ceremony after successful negotiations between the government of Botswana and Zimbabwe. The efforts also resulted in some of his people returning to their ancestral land (Botswana) in 2006.  

The late Kgosi Nswazwi’s grandson, Mr Tendenkani Malebeswa confirmed in an interview that preparations were at an advanced stage to mount the statue at Nswazwi mall in Francistown.

He revealed that a trust named John Madawu Nswazwi Trust, had long been established to spearhead the preparations.

“As his children and residents of Nswazwi we decided to honour our father with a statue to represent the power and authority he had over his people locally and across the border,” said Mr Malebeswa, who also doubles as the trust secretary.

He stated that Ba-Ka-Nswazwi in different villages and parts of the country are now raising funds for the statue, estimated to cost over P1.2 million.

“In order to celebrate this milestone, 70 years after Ba-Ka-Nswazwi went into exile, and to ensure that the late Kgosi Nswazwi statue project is a success, we would be most grateful if all Batswana and other interested parties could make their contributions,” he added.  

Mr Malebeswa explained that the statue would be erected on the northern side of Nswazwi mall in Francistown in a space that would be identified by the City of Francistown Council.

He further stated that they decided to erect the statue at Nswazwi mall because it was named after him.

He explained that the Tati Company built and named the mall Nswazwi to honour the return of Ba-Ka-Nswazwi from Jetjeni in Southern Zimbabwe.

He explained that before the mall was opened, Tati Company approached them (residents of Nswazwi) with a view to name the mall after their leader and they accepted the gracious gesture.

“We agreed with a view that in return, Tati company should also accede to our request to honour our leader with a statue that will be erected at the mall,” he added.

Mr Malebeswa revealed that committees had also been formed in some North East District villages where some of Kgosi Nswazwi’s subjects were residing such as Marapong, where the village’s junior secondary school was named after him.

He explained that the leadership of Francistown was also aware of their intention, adding that an expression of interest to look for a sculptor was currently running  with February 27 as the closing date.

Mr Malebeswa further indicated that once a sculptor had been identified and the evaluation process finalised, the actual work would immediately commence.

Though he could not state the exact date when the statue would be erected, he said everyone was eager to see the project taking off.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Batshani Monyatsi of Nswazwi, who is the grandson to late Kgosi Nswazwi, said residents were eager to see the project taking off.

He explained that the late Kgosi Nswazwi was a unifying figure, a nation builder and peace loving person, who wanted to see peace and tranquility prevail at all times.

The statue will be the fifth item of honour to be accorded to the late She Nswazwi since his demise in 1960.

There is the John Nswazwi Junior Secondary School in Marapong, the Madawu junior secondary school in Nswazwi, and the Nswazwi mall and Nswazwi street both in Francistown. Ends