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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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The village, which will be constructed below the Toutswe-Mogala hill, was deferred to NDP 9 during the mid-term review of NDP 8 because of funding constraints. The only aspect approved under NDP 8 is the environmental impact assessment study.

It is estimated that the project will cost about P10 million.

Toutswe-Mogala is an archaeological site of historical significance as it shows the beginnings of state formation in Botswana, says Dineo Phuti, an administrative secretary at the Botswana National Cultural Council. The site is protected under the monuments and relics act, and is an internationally recognised archaeological heritage site.

Many artefacts are found at the site, and there is evidence that large numbers of cattle were also reared at Toutswe-Mogala as cow dung is found at the top of the hill.

Phuti said historically Botswana used to be seen as a desert, and not as an area that had important historical sites comparable to those in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other places.

People of Toutswe-Mogala also traded with other people as far away as Mozambique. The remains of glass beads, cowry shells and other artefacts show evidence of trade.

The state of Toutswe-Mogala was one of the earliest states in Africa, formed almost 400 years before the rise of Great Zimbabwe in present day Zimbabwe.

She said it is because of this important history and pride of statehood that Toutswe-Mogala was decided upon as an appropriate site for the building of the national cultural village. The ministry of labour and home affairs has already acquired land, measuring 24 square kilometres, and this was achieved through the involvement of the affected communities at Toutswe-Mogala, Topisi, Palapye and some members of the community in Serowe.

Phuti said several kgotla meetings and consultations with strategic partners like Village Development Committees (VDC) members, dikgosi and others were undertaken by officials from the department of culture and youth and the Ministry of labour and home affairs' planning unit and the permanent secretary.

Compensations have already been paid to those affected by the project.

Phuti said the appropriateness of the site was confirmed and validated by a UNESCO sponsored feasibility study, adding that the study was undertaken by a world renowned company for cultural facilities consultancies known as Michael Holden and Associates in 1997.

The feasibility study confirmed the cultural, social and economic viability of the site and the proposed components, said Phuti adding the only component proposed for separation from the village was the State Theatre or National Performance Hall, She said the hall was recommended for Gaborone, and officials are currently on a fact finding mission in Mauritius and others are in consultation with the department of architecture and building services (DABS) to come up with a proper and suitable design.

The main reasons for establishing the cultural village are: To reproduce traditional Setswana villages in terms of various ranges of buildings and structures with typical fencing, walling and decoration, as well as places for traditional craft skills for the education of students and tourists.

It will also provide a range of buildings for visual and performing arts and cultural education facilities, and create an open-air museum at Toutswe-Mogala hill and wildlife park among others and to boost Botswana's cultural tourism industry.

Toutswe-Mogala hill also provides an ideal site for cultural tourism where the abundance of archaeological material is significant and the view from the summit of the hill is also magnificent.

Phuti said the relic sandstone on which the site is proposed to be located is fragile and unstable, that is why an environmental impact assessment was to be carried out.

An environmental impact assessment was necessary for the proposed project to produce an effective conservation and management plan for the area as well as preservation of the archaeological material.

She said the identification process of a company that will undertake the environmental impact assessment is to be finalised next month.

Apart from administrative staff, other people such as crafts people will permanently reside at the site.

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