Khama’s instruction lands Kgamane in trouble
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday May 2, 2022 06:00
Last month, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse issued a stern warning to Kgamane to desist from holding meetings at the Bangwato kgotla.
However, Kgamane defied the minister by hosting various meetings on April 1, 2022 at the instruction of Khama, who is the Paramount chief of Bangwato.
Following the defiance, Khama commended his tribe for following his instruction to hold meetings across dikgotla in GaMmangwato.
“I am grateful because during the meeting at the main kgotla in Serowe yesterday, I never heard of any incident about indecent behaviour, disrespect or any hate speech. I hope the same thing did cut across all dikgotla outside Serowe,” Khama stated after the meetings.
In a brief telephone interview with Mmegi yesterday, Autlwetse confirmed that indeed he had suspended Kgamane over a series of issues that are going to be probed by a commission of inquiry.
He stated that he could not disclose any further information because it could jeopardise the investigations.
Autlwetse, who has been at conflict with Kgamane and other Bangwato royals, said he does not want to humiliate the Bangwato regent by talking about him in the media.
“Ke tla bo kesa direle Kgosi botho gape gake batle e nna e kare ke ja monate,” he uttered.
Before Kgamane defied the minister by hosting kgotla meetings to discuss Khama’s issues, Autlwetse had warned him to never take instructions or directions of whatever nature, or agree to implement such, as issued by Khama.
Autlwetse then accused Kgamane of convening a meeting at the Serowe kgotla on March 19, 2022 whose subject matter and/or agenda was no way relevant to the functions of Dikgosi as stated under the Bogosi Act.
“It was indicated to me that you alleged that you had been directed by Khama to call a kgotla meeting in Serowe on March 19, 2022 to inform the residents that his (Khama’s) siblings have been arrested. You had not consulted me nor had you asked for permission from me to convene a kgotla meeting on a purely private matter of routine arrest of citizens,” Autlwetse wrote.
“I had directed you through the relevant Government Officials not to convene such meeting and to abandon it, all in vain. It was not the first time that a meeting whose agenda is outside the purpose and function of a kgotla was called at the Serowe kgotla.”
Autlwetse also directed Kgamane to exercise and perform to the exclusion of all other persons, the functions of the Kgosi and to never cede or delegate his functions as Kgosi to any other person or authority.
He further warned Kgamane that if he failed to comply with and abide by the directions this will immediately render him liable for necessary action.
Kgamane and Autlwetse’s conflict was also fuelled by the fact that Kgamane and other Bangwato royals amongst them Kgosi Mokhutshwane Sekgoma did not want Autlwetse to be the mediator in the reconciliation talks between Khama and his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The Bangwato royals even labelled Autlwetse as a conflicted emissary who is a Mongwato subject of Khama and therefore, neither qualified to adjudicate on an issue of his master nor acceptable to them as the royal uncles on the account of cultural fact and protocol.
Even though there is no established link to this conflict as the matter is currently before court, earlier this month Autlwetse’s car was torched and his family was rescued from being burnt inside the house by the police and members of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security at his residence in Serowe.
The government then concluded that the incident was a politically motivated violence.