[CPProt.net] Botswana: Claim back stolen artefacts

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Claim back stolen artefacts 
28 April, 2005 

GABORONE - Botswana should consider themselves lucky that they can obtain
valuable information on the countrys history from museums, says chairman of
the World Trade Organisation Commission for Africa Eduardo Chingunji. 

Speaking in an interview with BOPA during a tour of Phuthadikobo Museum in
Mochudi over the weekend, Chingunji regretted that in some African states
important information collected in the past and stored in museums was
destroyed during the liberation wars or stolen. 

Chingunji said African states should ask for the repatriation of some of the
artefacts stolen by colonialist and now being displayed in foreign museums. 

He added that Batswana should not hesitate to demand explanation if they
suspected that some of their artefacts were displayed in foreign countries. 

He said museums were an integral part of the tourism sector because visitors
can learn more about the history and culture of a people in a country,
adding that children can also get first hand information on their culture. 

He suggested that if possible Botswana should have museums in all the
villages to benefit school going children because experience had shown that
most people in Africa lived in rural areas. 

About Oodi Weavers project, he said it was high time government gave
financial support to self-initiated projects to create more employment
opportunities. 

In addition, he observed that there was also a need to buy relevant knitting
machines to increase production. 

According to Chingunji, voluntary workers should be sent to craft schools
for further training. 

Sending them to school will encourage them to open their own projects and
create jobs for more people, he said. 

The tour, conducted by the Minister for Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
Kitso Mokaila, culminated with a game viewing drive at Mokolodi Nature
Reserve. 

The animals they saw included elephants, giraffes, ostrich,birds,impala,
crocodiles, hippos and birds. BOPA