BagaMmangwato choose ‘Khama delegation’
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday November 29, 2021 06:00
Following a meeting they held last week, Khama has sent a signal that he is well, but that is not good enough for them. They have since decided to form a delegation that would seek to get to the bottom of the rift between Khama and President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Last week Thursday BagaMmangwato defiantly held a Kgotla meeting at the Serowe main Kgotla while Regent Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane was away in Gaborone. They demanded that Kgamane should explain to them where Khama is and whether he is well. “We the people of Gammangwato demand explanations as to the situation pertaining to our Paramount Chief.
We have observed that our Paramount Chief has been under attack since 2018 and you have never found it necessary to call us to his Kgotla to brief us and seek our views on this important matter. Or is it that you find this issue not of importance to you?,” they quizzed.
In the petition, Gammangwato state that Khama has been subjected to ridicule, intimidation and persecution for years; he has been stripped of his benefits as a former president; he has had allegation after allegation hauled at him time and again; attempts have been made on his life more than once and now he has disappeared and we are more than worried about his wellbeing.
Kgamane would on Wednesday this week address BaGammangwato at the instruction of Khama . “I called you here today to deliver a message from Kgosi Khama, the former president. He called me on Saturday and said I should hold this meeting by Wednesday. His wish was that the meeting be held with people from all over Gammangwato and not just those in Serowe but we could not manage that. He asked that I tell you that he is still well and alive.
His intention is to return home soon.
He promised that he will address you as soon as he gets back,” he said. His words were met with ululation and whistling from the dozens who attended the meeting. Kgamane would then rebuke morafe for the meeting they held while he was away without permission. He urged them to express their displeasures while following laid down protocol. Kgamane told Morafe that he received a call from Local Government and Rural Development Minister Eric Molale enquiring about the Kgotla meeting while he did not have any knowledge about it. Kgamane told Morafe that that they had met with uncles and other elders to discuss Khama’s issues.
He would then hand the microphone to Kgosi Mokhutshwane Sekgoma to address Morafe. “If there is a time in all the happenings that need peace, that need calm emotions, that need being smart and visionary, it is now. If we let our emotions get the better of us, disrespect each other, we will never succeed. May God help calm our emotions, and open our ears and hearts and help us map a way forward together. As you have stated before, even before, there were other issues. You had always had concerns that need us to stand together and find a solution. We do not expect things to be the same when we hear of allegations of arrests and other issues including threats to his life.
I call for calm and proper planning as to what we would do. I see you are all disgruntled because of our father. His troubles are growing by the day,” Sekgoma said. For all the concerns, he said consultation is key to finding a solution. Sekgoma said none of the leaders have solutions. He said they had agreed to send a delegation to traverse Gammangwato to hear what people are saying and their answers to the problems.
He called for calm before Morafe could be granted a chance to state their views on how best to move forward. While the master of ceremonies Oleosi Serite attempted to give only three speakers a chance, the masses would not take it. Several speakers welcomed the address and supported the idea of sending a delegation that would engage government on what is happening and when it would come to an end.
While Khama’s choosing of Masisi as his predecessor shocked many, not many could guess it would end in such a fierce rivalry. Both men admit they had a fallout, however, none is ready to disclose what went wrong. Ongoing investigations on Khama and his allies by the DIS and other security organs have been labeled as politicking. This has since been denied by the DIS which state that they are doing everything by the book.