Concern over Gammangwato
Correspondent | Friday December 22, 2023 12:08
We therefore apologize for putting an additional burden on you by writing this letter.
Firstly, we wish to address you correctly and set the record straight that you are somehow a Mothusa Motswharela Kgosi Kgolo ya Gammangwato or alternatively plainly “Rre Serogola Seretse” or “that guy” as some have resorted to disrespectfully address you.
By way of fact, you are Kgosi Serogola Seretse, mothanka wa Bangwato and occupy position of Mothusa Kgosi ya Gammangwato.
If our memory serves right, you have been Mothusa Kgosi ya ga Mangwwato for 14 years now. This contradicts what some would like us to believe that you have been unprocedurally placed in the Kgotla. But we shouldn’t be surprised, as some are known to use selective amnesia as a weapon of deception.
Likewise, in addressing you properly, some shouldn’t mischievously think we are on a campaign to elevate you to any position higher than that of monga rona eleng Kgosi Kgolo Seretse Khama Ian Khama. His seat as Kgosi Kgolo is undisputed.
We have decided to write you this letter to raise a concern about current happenings within Gammangwato. We express our deep concerns and dissatisfaction in the manner in which things are being done by a section of us. We are quarrelling and the question is why are we quarrelling? Public Meetings upon meetings have been called by a section of us as “Serangwane” to meetings under the pretext to update Morafe on the current issues relating to Bogosi jwa Gammangwato. Lately we have picked up from the grapevine that we are in court. How did we even arrive there? Where is the resolution of Morafe to agree to go the court route? In truth these announcements have taken us by surprise. This is so, because at any point we haven’t had a morero regarding issues tsa Bogosi rele boRrangwane. Announcements continue to be made prior to being discussed with us. Same goes to the belief that as boRangwane we are divided. No, there is no division amongst us, what we have is a lack of morero le tsamaiso. To this end, we unreservedly apologize to Bangwato for failing them on leadership and it is our hope that they accept our apology. We should never underestimate the privilege given to us to lead Gammangwato.
For avoidance of doubt, Rasebolai Kgamane, Phokontsi Seeletso, Sediegeng Kgamane and Mokhutswhwane Sekgoma are not the only boRangwane-a-Kgosi-Kgolo. Neither at any point have they been appointed to speak on our behalf as boRangwane. Same goes to a certain Amigo Nthebolan, whom respectfully is not a Rangwane in the first place. These gentlemen hold no brief from us as boRrangwane. Being that the case, whatever message they carry is for their own agenda. An agenda which should not be confused to be that of consensus to boRangwane. Often, they have spoken publicly, unfortunately, and wrongly as boRangwane, as if they are the only boRangwane. This behaviour, Kgosi Serogola, has to stop as it has caused unrepairable damage to the good name of Gammangwato. This new anointed seniority mentality from in particular Rasebolai does not bring about peace. It is a new phenomenon, if left unattended will lead to the destruction of our great Morafe.
In the recent past, Gammanngwato has had to manage a challenging and unprecedented situation to the fallout of Kgosi Kgolo Seretse Khama Ian Khama and His Excellency President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi. We state this as a matter of fact without commenting on the merits or demerits of who is right or who is wrong. We however wish to state in this letter, that despite our best efforts, some within our leadership as boRangwane and some within our Morafe at large have taken advantage of the situation and have invited politics to the Kgotla ya Gammangwato. This has been a calculated move to incite or perpetuate divisions within Gammangwato. This to us is concerning and dangerous.
We say so, because within the broader Gammangwato we have various proud ethnic groupings. There are also different political formations, and equally different religious beliefs. But what is common is that all see and should continue to see the Kgotla as a neutral place. That being the case, we should never at any point in time rob the Kgotla for its neutrality, it’s authority to adjudicate disputes between parties and for it to carry out administrative duties for the benefit of all within Gammangwato. The Kgotla should as always committed to serving all communities of Gammangwato and Batswana as a whole. Failure to do so will result in it losing its authority, and that would be the beginning and the end to our great Tribe.
We raise this issue of the need for the Kgotla to maintain its neutrality so as to make an essential and crucial point that any time, no matter how convenient or desperate we are, we should never use the Kgotla to drive political agendas. For this reason, we find it strange to the extreme that invitations by a section of boRangwane carry political undertones, are disobedient to the Government of the day and have potential to disturb peace moGammangwato.
We have taken note of this campaign by the very same within our ranks jwa boRangwane, supported by some within the media, to discredit you as Mothusa Kgosi ya Gammanwato and in the process elevate themselves to some level of seniority. This campaign is based on lies and deliberate and malicious distortions. Yet such is the malaise that has entrenched itself to issues pertaining to Bogosi jwa Gammangwato that we do not ask the obvious question – where have the likes of Rasebolai Kgamane, Amigo Nthebolan been and when did they accumulate such knowledge on issues pertaining to Bogosi?
We had been deliberately quiet so as to not stoop to public debates driven by these fabrications, which would demean and destroy the dignity of Gammangwato, its leadership le Kgotla e tona ya Gammangwato. Regrettably, this posture we have taken produced results that we never intended, as it has suggested that we could not contest the lies that have been told.
Some of the lies and our rebuttal to them can be summarized as follows: • That you illegally occupy the position of Acting Regent, and such you should be ignored. FACT: On this one we are venturing into the absurdity. Prior to the resignation of Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane, you deputised him as Mothusa Kgosi ya ga Mangwato. Naturally it follows that when a substantive retires or resigns, his or her deputy will be the next in line of authority. Besides it is our understanding that your acting is temporary until such a time all stakeholders agree on Substantive Regent. • That you have denied Bangwato use of their main Kgotla, being that of Serowe. FACT: Quite to the contrary the Kgotla continues to be used to discuss productive issues pertaining to the interests of morafe. What we know as a fact that has been refused, is use of the Kgotla for unauthorised gatherings and wrong for reasons under the pretext of updating morafe on Bogosi issues. • That you have refused to accept the nomination by Kgosi Kgolo Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Seretse Peter Khama as Acting Regent. FACT: This is untrue. It is former Acting Regent Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane who refused to take up Peter Khama’s nomination to an even junior position for reasons best known to him. How is it that Sediegeng and company who were so disenchanted with Peter Khama a year back can now all of a sudden see him a dependable deployee to the position of Motshwarela Kgosi ya Gammangwato? Not that we are opposed to Peter, but we simply state this to point to the hypocrisy and inconsistency of some within our ranks as boRangwane. • That you have refused to accept to nomination of Mokhutshwane Sekgoma to assist in the main Kgotla of Serowe. FACT: Mokhutshwane Sekgoma contract ended in 2018 thereabouts and was refused an extension by non-other then Acting Regent Sediegeng Kgamane. • That you have refused access to Sediegeng Kgamane use of the government house reserved for Regents. FACT: The said house is government property, Sediegeng Kgamane as per his resignation last year ceased to be a public servant, as such he has no right to use government property without the necessary approval. • That you refuse to take instructions from boRrangwane-a-Kgosi Kgolo. FACT: Gammangwato is not a separate state. We are not experts in law, but what we know is that we are subject to all laws within the Republic of Botswana. As such all laws are binding to you as Acting Regent, as well as the entire Gammangwato area. It goes without saying that any communication that comes from self-appointed intermediaries of Kgosi Kgolo or any other person for that matter within the Royal household, has to be challenged properly in an orderly manner and accompanied by appropriate approval. Still on this, we should be minded that given the current status of Kgosi Kgolo of not occupying his rightful seat, legally and procedurally he can only advise but doesn’t have authority to make decisions on behalf of Gammangwato.
With the above as backdrop, allow us to address immediate matters which we humbly think are important to Bangwato at present: 1. To remind Rasebolai Kgamane, Phokontsi Seeletso and Mokhutswhane and others of the need of morero and to engage all boRangwane in any actions they undertake, and to secure proper approval. As such there is nothing like ‘senior uncles’. Careerism and opportunism should be defeated and instead we should resort to morero. 2. Attend to any attempts for factionalism within boRrangwane. 3. That the Kgotla should remain a respected neutral place for all Ba Gammangwato, and not to be used for political agendas or as a launchpad of disobedience to Government. 4. That we attend immediately to various factors that have militated against achievement of unity and cohesion within Ntlo yaga Sekgoma, paramount to which is the complete hijack of our equal responsibilities as boRrangwane. 5. Attend to the tendency to the threat to use violence as a dispute resolution mechanism. 6. That we be updated on the recommendations by various Kgotla meetings tsa Gammangwato on the resolution that Kgosi Kgolo Seretse Khama Ian Khama to leave politics and to come occupy his long vacant seat of Kgosi Kgolo 7. Take a lead in attending to pressing socio-economic challenges facing Gammangwato and develop an aggressive external strategy to augment already in place government assistance by bringing in local and international partners on board for the betterment of Gammangwato area.
As a small plea in this regard, if you ever happen to speak to Kgosi Kgolo Seretse Khama Ian Khama remind him of Psalm 1, versus 1 to 3. Depending on the version you read King James or New Version, the reading is the same to the effect that “Do not seek counsel of the wicked, the ungodly for they have own agenda”. Kgosi Kgolo has invited people who do not have necessarily have his interest at heart. They have taken advantage of his emotions by saying “Oh hail the King”, when maybe what is best of the King at that moment is to reflect. Serangwane se sengwe doesn’t have the interest of morafe at heart. You may want to differ, but if they truly did care, they wouldn’t want to annihilate Gammanwato at all costs all for but their narrow agendas.
With the above Kgosi, one cannot emphasise that Gammangwato is at crossroads and left unattended, the noise and disruption within Bogosi jwa Gammangwato will impact on our great morafe and the peace of our beloved country. Silence is not an option. We cannot afford to watch the disintegration of our Morafe all for politics, careerism, and opportunism.
We are confident that the decisions you will take as Acting Regent, with the assistance of us, if needed, will advance common interests tsa Bangwato and bring about peace that we so cherish.
In parting, we kindly appeal that nobody should abuse or use or cite us boRrangwane falsely to promote hatred, divisions, and politics. Kindly tender our apologies to BaGammangwato rele batlhanka ba bone. Tell them we are equally embarrassed to way things are going.
A kalo Phuti.
Morafe ko pele!
Respectfully submitted.
Gasebalwe Seretse Bakang Seretse