Open letter to Kgosi Malope II
Metlhaeno Gaseitsiwe | Thursday December 22, 2022 18:20
Firstly, one would have expected the Gaseitsiwe Royal family to lead and coordinate the entire processes of the marriage. They could have been the ones to delegate tasks related to the marriage. Nevertheless, I observed with lament that a small group of the Bangwaketse, some even purporting to be members of the Royal family coordinated all the affairs of the marriage. The fund raising activities for the marriage were marred with some controversies. One would wonder if there is a clean financial report on funds raised for the occasion.
Our cultural expectations as regards preparations for the marriage of a Chief were generally flouted as well .This is very lamentable to say the least. Ngwetsi o gorogetse kae? O tswa go batlwa ke bo mang? These are some of the questions. According to the local tradition, your mother, Neo Gaseitsiwe was supposed to be the one at the apex of the whole function. But to my dismay, she was not involved in the processes of your marriage. Who then is the mother-in-law of your recently wedded wife, Sir? Furthermore, Kgosi Seepapitso IV’s two sisters were equally not involved in the affairs of the marriage. Regretably, Kgosi's eldest sister was told about the marriage on the April 14, 2022. This happened even after the entire morafe was informed about the marriage. Does this sit well with the family, which you are supposed to be part of Sir? What about Kgosi Seepapitso’s paternal uncle, Mookami Gaseitsiwe’s daughter, Serwalo Gaseitsiwe? She was equally not involved in the process of your marriage, Sir. This is very unfortunate too. On the October 5, another activity was held under your auspices at the Mmalekwa Royal Cemetery and the same people I mentioned earlier were not involved. To my utter dismay, even Kgosi Leema's son was not invited to the unveiling of his father's and grandmother's tombstones. This one I leave it to God! May the soul of those resting there have eternal peace. T
he same day witnessed what was termed your 10th anniversary as Kgosi of the Bangwaketse. The event, like the other two, did not have the blessing of the Royal family. Do you know that the Royal celebrations are significant periods in the Royal families throughout the world? These celebrations give members of the family an opportunity to reconnect among themselves and with the entire morafe. For your own information Sir, the Bangwaketse Royal family is regarded as the cultural icons. Please realise that there are some long standing traditions which are meant to guide its operations. It is a pity these have no room during your tenure as Kgosi. It is very sad and shameful rra. Please be advised that the Bangwaketse Royal family has had an established operational structure over the past years that have survived the tide of times. This was very admirable even to people and Dikgosi outside Botswana. It is very regrettable to observe that this structure with its decorum and noble history is destroyed during your reign, Malope. Last but not least, I am not sure if your first in-laws and your other children were informed of this marriage. Culturally, there are some processes to be followed when one enters the second marriage.
In your case, Sir, have these been followed? We don’t want a situation where Bogosi goes to the wrong person like it is now. A beng ba bogosi ba lese go lobiwa! I do hope you would consider the content of this letter helpful. Hence you will close the gaps your marriage and your 11-year reign has created, Sir! God bless you! Thank you! email: metgas66@gmail.com Mobile: 71454601