Jaquey's funeral exposes divisions in bogosi
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday June 7, 2022 06:00
The Monitor has been reliably informed that dikgosana from three main wards in Serowe did not attend nor contribute to the funeral, urging subjects against attending Khama's funeral. Royal uncle, Phokontsi Seeletso sent a strong warning message to the said dikgosana after the funeral service. “Just like Judas sold Jesus, we also have those in Bagammangwato selling out their very own.
We should stand together as Bagammangwato and there should not be those holding back. If we have done wrong, let all of us be punished and others should not hide. "I want to say this straight out that some of our shepherds that we are your people, stop selling us out. As bogosi and uncles, we do not have people, this morafe is yours as dikgosana. I am going to be straight with you without blinking. "How do you exclude others when we should be mourning together. Why do you stop people from coming to the funeral? You will regret that decision because it will not end your way. Our pain will end in joy and your joy will end in pain. Please introspect and do what is right,” Seeletso said to ululations of approval.
Seeletso said he was saddened when dikgosana broke rank with bogosi and wondered whether they know what they are doing. “It is painful that when morafe is mourning, as a kgosana you call [Seretse] Khama’s morafe aside and stop them from attending a funeral. What you are doing is wrong. This kgotla should be fully packed to show that you are at the funeral of your kgosi’s daughter. The attendance is low and I want to call on those who attended to keep on [showing support] and we shall overcome,” he said. Seeletso said they are for peace and said Bagammangwato have always been law-abiding citizens. He called on them to remain calm and not be violent. According to a source, some dikgosana have been spooked by the suspension of the regent, Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane who has since retired.
They are scared of losing their jobs as civil servants. Just recently, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse confirmed Kgamane’s suspension and indicated that a commission of inquiry would probe the matter. Kgamane was suspended after failing to take heed of government’s instruction to never convene meetings at the Serowe kgotla to discuss issues on former president Ian Khama or any of his family members. “We also learnt that Minister Autlwetse convened a closed-door meeting at the council chamber in Serowe with our dikgosana who are subordinate to Kgamane and informed them before anything was said to Kgamane himself.
Neither our kgosikgolo nor morafe was accorded the respect of consultation by Minister Autlwetse. What needs to be known is that Kgamane had, in fact, noticed government of his intention to retire before he heard about his suspension and before he received any communication about the suspension,” further read the statement from the Bangwato royals.