Radisele residents 'shoot' Serogola's messenger
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday January 23, 2024 09:39
The first signs pointing to possible simmering tensions in the future unfolded on Friday when Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye landed in Radisele to deliver the message from Acting Bagammangwato regent, Kgosi Serogola Seretse, sparking discontent amongst the crowd that gathered at Radisele Kgotla.
The announcement by Kgosi Tshipe, who was accompanied by Kgosi Lebang of Palapye, left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Radisele residents. Many felt that the decision to elevate Pilikwe to a higher status village over theirs was unreasonable and without cause.
The Radisele residents reasoned that with a population of over 3,000 people as opposed to Pilikwe’s 1,000 plus, it made no sense to have their village report to the latter instead of the other way round. Even worse, said the residents, the decision by Serowe meant that Radisele residents would have to traverse an 'unfriendly' terrain characterised by bad roads to seek services in Pilikwe.
Until now, Radisele alongside Mokgware and Mogome reported to Palapye on Bogosi issues. On Friday, Kgosi Tshipe revealed that there was also a historical context to the decision to elevate Pilikwe over Radisele, with Pilikwe having been led previously by Tshekedi Khama, a prominent uncle of the late Bagammngwato Kgosikgolo Seretse Khama and at one point his regent in Serowe. At the Friday Kgotla meeting, former councillor Michael Motshidi was the first to express disappointment, stating; "We waited on Friday hoping to be consulted, but it was clear that a decision had already been taken by the people in Serowe." Motshidi decried the new challenge going forward of Radisele residents who would have to take a longer route through Palapye in order to access Pilikwe for services. This, he said, was because the shorter route to Pilikwe was not passable as it was in a bad state.
He hinted that in the past the Bogosi leadership in Pilikwe was not always willing to cooperate with Radisele. Mojaboswa Jabeng echoed these sentiments, asserting, "This is not consultation. Kgosi Lebang should have consulted us first instead of coming here to tell us that she had already agreed to a decision made in Serowe." Jabeng queried the haste in the process, underscoring the residents' desire to remain under Palapye. While Kgosi Tshipe cited Palapye developing into a town, residents like Jabeng argued for their right to partake in that development. Jabeng was skeptical about the real reasons behind the elevation of Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse to oversee areas like Radisele, saying the unfairness of the decision raised more questions than answers. "It would appear that someone is trying to involve us in matters that do not concern us," he said.
The residents also raised concerns that since taking over from Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane, Kgosi Serogola was never introduced to them as the rightful regent of Bogosi ja Gammangwato, something they said was unusual. Bonolo Ontebetse questioned the manner of Kgosi Tshipe's 'consultation' saying the chief from Mahalapye had come to deliver a decision instead.
"There is more to this development than those who made the decision are willing to divulge," he said. Kabo Thebeyame added his voice, expressing discontent with being tools of the Bagammangwato royals. "We cannot be used to hire someone in Pilikwe while we are being overlooked here. We also want our village to develop." Meanwhile, Kgosi Tshipe found himself facing mounting resistance and discontent from the morafe. Despite promising that he would convey their views to Kgosi Serogola, the lack of substantive explanations left the residents frustrated and wary of the unfolding political maneuvers within the realm of Bagammangwato Bogosi. Meanwhile, the self-exiled Bagammangwato Kgosikgolo Ian Khama said he knew nothing about the move which he believes he should have been consulted on.