Africa-Press – Botswana. Ministry of Environment and Tourism is constructing 150 institutional houses on plot 9478 in Kasane where human remains were exhumed during excavations.
The construction of the houses was not halted because the competent authorities did not deem it necessary to do so, said Minister Wynter Mmolotsi and added that ‘additionally, as part of the archeological management plan, the ministry revised the layout of the houses being constructed so as to secure the bulk of the suspected burial site for preservation, while allowing construction on the rest of the plot.’ Mr Mmolotsi hastened to allay fears, saying the human remains exhumed during the excavation had been handled with utmost respect and care.
He explained that the human remains were currently securely stored in a dedicated room at the project office, carefully labeled to ensure proper identification and preservation. “Plans are in place to transfer the remains to a mortuary, where they will be kept temporarily while consultations are finalised with interested and affected parties,” the minister explained.
Following the said consultations, the remains will be reburied in accordance with the cultural and traditional norms of the area, ensuring that dignity and respect are upheld throughout the process.
Meanwhile, the minister said remains were discovered two months after commencement of construction where the contractor discovered the first presumed human remains on July 8, 2024 and the area was immediately cordoned off and a report to the relevant authorities as the Botswana Police Service, district commissioner amongst other as per dictates of the Monuments and Relics Act of 2001 (section 19).
The BPS concluded their investigation, including laboratory analysis, where they confirmed that indeed they were human remains, said Minister Mmolotsi and explained that following the discovery of the first finding, the ministry instructed the environmental consultant to conduct additional archaeological assessment of the plot. Minister Mmolotsi said that based on the Mananagement Plan and Monuments Relics Act, it was then recommended that amongst other things, the project proceeded as these were chance discoveries. Also, the distance between the findings were far apart and this was in line with international best practices, Mr Mmolotsi stated.
The minister noted that extensive consultations were undertaken prior to the development of the area. He said, the construction plot measuring 8.5 hectares was applied for and allocated to the then ministry of presidential affairs by the department of lands on February 8, 2022 to accommodate 150 institutional houses and a three storey integrated office block.
The plot is part of the approved Plateau hospital layout which was to be serviced by the then lands and water affairs ministry, Minister Mmolotsi said.
He said as part of engineering design for the servicing of the layout, MLWS was issued with an archaeological impact assessment clearance by the department of museums and monuments on August 17, 2020 as well as an environmental impact assessment by department of environmental protection on March 21, 2021.
The minister noted that both studies, AIA and EIA, had not identified any graves within the project area. He went on to state that detailed architectural and building designs for construction of 150 houses and an integrated office block prepared by ministry of environment and tourism were approved by Chobe District Council on July 7, 2022.
Minister Mmolotsi was responding to queries from Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga who wanted to know if the minister was aware of the ministry’s ongoing construction works in Kasane on the grave/burial site.
If aware, Mr Mapulanga asked the minister to explain why the ministry went ahead with the construction while they had discovered such a tragedy. Additionally, the minister was asked if his ministry consulted the community before commencement of construction.
Again, the MP wanted to be apprised on where the ministry kept the human remains and whether or not the ministry did not find it proper to halt the construction, survey the site, exhume and rebury the remains with dignity.
Source: dailynews
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