01 Jul 2024

Before independence, Sir Seretse Khama successfully mobilised Batswana to support the struggle for freedom and independence.

Former President of Mozambique, Dr Joaquim Chissano said during Sir Seretse Khama Day commemoration in Gaborone yesterday.

Dr Chissano said in this context, Botswana served as a transit corridor for several nationalists from the liberation movements of South Africa and Mozambique, who were on transit to Tanzania which was already independent and their fortress.

Dr Chissano said, “On March 4, 1963 we had resolved to join the liberation struggle led by FRELIMO, although under the threat of being arrested by the Portuguese political police.” 

He said at the time, Samora Machel; a nurse and FRELIMO activist had fled Mozambique via Swaziland, South Africa and Botswana, where he was welcomed by a local family in Lobatse, at a residence that had now been transformed into a museum.

This, according to Dr Chissano, showed engagement and sacrifice of Batswana in the fight for freedom and independence of their brethren.

He said after independence in 1966, President Sir Seretse Khama consolidated and continued to promote the policy of supporting the struggles for freedom and independence even though he was aware of the geopolitical vulnerability of his country, under the threat of the apartheid regime.

This support was done with great caution and always under firm support of Batswana who were a true allies of the nationalists and the movements that passed through their territory, Dr Chissano added.

“I earn witness to this atmosphere of commitment and support both from President Sir Seretse Khama and the people of Botswana. The proof is that in 1973, FRELIMO sent me here to Botswana with the mission of exchanging views with the President about ways his country could support the liberation struggle of Mozambique,” he said.

On this mission, Dr Chissano disclosed that he was welcomed by state and was hosted at a residency of the permanent secretary in the Office of the President and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Archibald Mogwe in a place of little suspicion and from which he could only leave when inside a vehicle so as not to be seen by the enemy forces nearby in South Africa.

He said these were precautions for his safety, but mainly to not compromise that of his host himself.

Dr Chissano said concomitantly supporting the liberation and independence struggles, Sir Seretse Khama was champion of promotion of economic cooperation among all Southern African states, adding that the first president understood that the economic development of Botswana required creation of a forum debate on forms to face the apartheid regime and above all for mutual assistance toward the development of the states and people across the region.

He said Sir Seretse Khama chose to collaborate economically with South Africa while the other countries were for sanctions against apartheid; one aspect that made him a realist and a pragmatic person and for this decision, Dr Chissano added that Sir Seretse Khama was condemned by no country, not even those against apartheid.

Dr Chissano said the first President brought the idea of cooperation among the independent states in Southern Africa that culminated into the creation of Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), wherein he was later nominated its chairperson by member states to coordinate the economic struggle.

In his parting words, Dr Chissano said Botswana had a special value for him and for the many men and women who passed through the country fighting for the liberation of Africa, from colonial domination, racism, oppressive and antidemocratic regimes.

He said all this was because of the vision and leadership of Sir Seretse Khama, who knew how to mobilise Batswana to consent to immediate sacrifices for the gains of great value enjoyed today - freedom and independence. Ends