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North East chiefs elect Masunga’s successor
RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer
10/6/2005 11:44:51 AM (GMT +2)
FRANCISTOWN: Mosojane chief, Freedah Mosojane was elected unopposed last Tuesday as the North East representative to the House of Chiefs. The unanimous decision was taken at the Tatitown Land Board boardroom in Masunga by 10 chiefs from the region. The chairman of the House of Chiefs, Kgosi Seepapitso IV, conducted the elections. The 50-year-old Mosojane succeeds Christopher Masunga, who has joined the Customary Court of Appeal in Francistown.
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Her election brings to three the number of women at the House of Chiefs. Others are Batawana Regent, Kealetile Moremi and Balete paramount chief, Mosadi Seboko. Mosojane has served at Mosojane village Kgotla for four years. The mother of four was previously self-employed in Gaborone where she was running a brick-moulding business. She schooled at Mosojane village before moving to Mater Spei College. Before she ventured into the brick-moulding business, she was a secretary at BCL mine in Selebi-Phikwe.
Speaking to Mmegi yesterday after her election, Mosojane was happy that chiefs in the area showed trust in her. “I really feel honoured to have been elected to the House as this shows a lot of trust by my colleagues. I will work closely with other chiefs so that whatever I do and say in the House has their blessings,” said Mosojane. She considers her election as a challenge and vows never to disappoint her colleagues and the people of the North East. “I will have to go village by village gathering the views of the people in all the areas so that I can carry their interests to the House of Chiefs.”
Some of the issues that she intends to raise at the House of Chiefs include problems associated with illegal immigrants in the North East. She said a majority of the cases brought to the Kgotla in the region involve illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe. She was worried that repeated criminal behaviour was common among illegal aliens. She said a majority of them change their names, as they do not have passports and enter the country at ungazetted points. “I am going to present this issue to the House of Chiefs so that colleagues could assist in finding a lasting solution. I consider myself to be a servant of the people and I am going to serve their interests.”
Meanwhile, Botswana’s premier women group, Emang Basadi has welcomed the election of Mosojane to the House of Chiefs. Emang Basadi president, Joyce Andersen pointed out that it is important that women ascended to positions of decision making to prove their worth. She said Mosojane’s appointment amounted to empowerment of women. She wished that more women could join the House of Chiefs.
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