Volume 54 Issue 3- March 2016 : Art & Culture

 

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s Botswana`s 50 years of independence celebrations build-up gains momentum, the National Museum, Monuments and Art Gallery is also poised to celebrate two new exciting additions to its collection.

Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Ketumile Masire, Botswana`s first and second presidents` vintage official Daimler Limousines will soon be part of the national museum`s collection. 

“This is an initiative by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, not long ago, that the two Daimlers our former presidents used, must be on display here,” says an excited museum`s deputy director, Stephen Mogotsi.

The two presidents used the cars to traverse little known Botswana`s bumpy terrain from one of uncertainty to that of Africa`s strongest economies. 

And like all other vintage cars, they are also the most sought after possession worldwide hence they make it into the national museum after President Khama made an appeal that they should be kept and displayed at the museum as part of Batswana`s heritage. 

What a good way to celebrate 50 years of independence. The two cars are an invaluable collection of historical artifacts and a heritage that reminds Batswana of where they come from as a country.  

 “As we speak the cars are housed at the Central Transport Organisation awaiting completion of the [museum] showroom. Once it is complete, they will move in,” indicates Mogotsi.

 “They are in good condition and we are excited to have them here in the museum,” reckons Mogotsi.  

Sir Seretse Khama`s car was bought in 1974 while Sir Ketumile`s was purchased in 1979. The two limousines were designed by Mercedes Benz. With their exhibition, Botswana joins nations such as the United States of America and France whose former presidents` official cars are on display as part of their national heritage.

 However, since the museum was established almost 40 years ago, there has never been any significant collection of new artifacts.  Thus, the two cars make the biggest collection in recent history and are expected to be the center of attraction. 

“We expect the two cars to be the center of attraction,” says Mogotsi, adding by displaying the cars is also part of their mission to refurbish the national museum to make it more attractive to visit.

Meanwhile, while museums elsehwere use multi-media displays, the local museum still relies on an archaic method of displaying artifacts. Currently as one enters the museum, they are greeted by ancient stone artifacts with a brie-up. From here one is taken on a journey through the wild as lions, birds, reptiles and other animals stand on display. What then follows are antiques such as guns and canoes.

 There are few items of the colonial period such as telephones and stamps.  Nonetheless, Mogotsi says this is about to change as they seek modern ways of making the museum more attractive.

“We are in partnership with the [Gaborone] city council through Ipelegeng Programme to refurbish the national museum and the project is nearing completion,” he says. The intention is also to introduce interactive and thematic multi-media exhibitions besides having more information online. 

Contrary to popular belief that the national museum is short of artifacts, Mogotsi says they are in fact loaded with display material, noting that more will be on display once refurbishment is complete. ENDS

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