For a number of years I have raised my concerns over the lack of preserving historical past at Botswana Defence Force. I have written this before and I was particularly talking about the creation of a military museum. On occasion when I write, I usually get a response from one or two people that may have a particular interest on that topic.
Around the 2000, BDF employed a curator as they were intending to establish a museum at the Glenn Valley Barracks. The project never took off and I was one of the happiest people who were anticipating its success. The curator was left idle until he chose to resign.
There is a bit that has been preserved like the BTR Soviet armoured personnel carriers that are placed at SSKB, Glenn Valley and Donga Base in Francistown. Unfortunately they are exposed to the elements of weather and they will not last as long as they would have indoors. By the way, I went to Glenn Valley Barracks recently and came to realise that the Shorland armoured car which was the very first for BDF in 1978 had been removed from the circle.
Every article of history has a very interesting story that needs to be preserved. Unfortunately the current crop of officers that remain within the military have no idea where these came from and how they came about here. I always tell these young soldiers that every piece of military equipment has its own unique story. They are like humans with the different personalities.
Also at Glenn Valley Barracks, there is a huge anti-aircraft gun that sits there to decorate the entrance. This is the 100mm KS-19 gun that France Museveni speaks about on his Facebook page. Eight of them were bought through Seleka Springs (Pty) Ltd at a cost of P8m a piece. They were never used and that now serves as a monument of corruption and it is good that the commander decided to put them on full public display.
However, more importantly there is the human history to the BDF story. It is always interesting to listen to these old men telling their operational stories from as far back as the Para Military Unit (PMU) days. But nothing has gone on to be written and kept as record. And the rate at which retired soldiers are dying is equally alarming. Something needs to be done about this situation of capturing BDF’s history orally and to be transcribed into text.
One would say BDF has different phases of history. It begins with PMU and then transcends into the Rhodesian War. There after comes the conflict with South Africa which was later followed by intense anti-poaching operation. All these operations at their different levels required personnel.
These man always have very funny stories to tell and as well as their most difficult moments. The young soldiers at BDF need to be taught this history in order for them to fully comprehend what their forerunners have endured. Upon the establishment of BDF, soldiers were required to buy their own food while doing operational duties.
Later things were improved as government was meeting them half way. Before soldiers would leave for a three months trip, their commanding officers were required to have each soldier contribute money for their rations. Today’s soldiers don’t know that their predecessors literally bankrolled the military in the past.
Worse of all, in as much as they contributed their own money to run military operations, their personal liberties were taken away. For a soldier to travel to any part of South Africa, it was a requirement for them to get an escort from Military Police. The soldier would transport, feed and pay for the lodging of his escort. This was a policy of General Khama.
In as much as most soldiers were dwelling in tents, their civil liberties were equally taken away. Often than not, retiring senior officers were leaving BDF with very lavish gifts such as tractors and 4x4s. The ordinary soldiers who were earning close to nothing were coerced to contribute for every one of those men except Major General Pheto whose departure was very controversial.
It became worse when General Khama left. There were categories on contributions and yet that was supposed to be voluntary. At that time the word “voluntary” was mere lip service as lists were published on notice boards to embarrass those who did not “volunteer.”
One of the worst periods in the history of BDF regarding civil liberties was when every soldier was required to fill a promotions form that had categories for their level of drinking. General Khama who was a teetotaller and often emulating his great grandfather Khama III was the man who came up with such innovation.
The categories were as follows; ND – None Drinker, LD – Light Drinker, MD – Medium Drinker and finally HD which stood for Heavy Drinker. All of Khama’s soldiers were found in the first two categories. Military Police personnel were required to monitor liquor drinking and searches were made at the gate to prevent the import of any alcoholic drinks.
Hypocrisy was at its highest level as heavy drinkers were all of a sudden converted to light drinkers. One night at the Officers Mess, Lt Col Pilane was found to be the only man drinking St Louis beer while the rest were heavily indulging in soda drinks and especially Coca Cola.
The moment Gen Khama left, senior officers were tripping each other in a stampede to get beers at the counter. An hour later Gen Khama returned to witness hypocrisy of the first order. Because it was free alcohol, the officers were drinking like fish and within that one hour some could hardly stand when the commander returned.
It is the soldiers who have contributed to the sports fund and welfare fund to see BDF teams excel as they used to do. It was not government money that financed BDF IV, Task and Mogoditshane Fighters. History will not forgive those who do not recognise such great sacrifices by the men who served Botswana’s military in yesteryears.
