Serowe honours Mogae
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 15, 2026 11:24
When the Mmegi team visited Serowe on Wednesday, the signs of preparation were evident everywhere. From the Botalaote ward, where Mogae’s family home stands, to the roads leading to the main Kgotla, residents were working diligently to clean and repair the village. Streets were swept, grass was cut, and even potholes along the key routes were fixed. Every action reflected a collective desire to present the village in its best light, as though the entire community were paying tribute to a national hero through their labour and attention to detail. At the main Kgotla, where the body viewing by the Bagammangwato is scheduled, the atmosphere was alive with purposeful activity. Members of the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, and tribal leaders coordinated meticulously to ensure that every detail, from security to ceremonial arrangements, was in order. The combination of formal discipline and community-driven effort created a rhythm that was both structured and deeply heartfelt. It was a scene where tradition met modernity, with each participant aware of the significance of the occasion. In an interview on Wednesday, Kgosi Bakae Khumo shared the village’s collective mindset. “Kgosikgolo Ian Khama has told us that Mogae should be given the dignity he deserves. We will give him respect and are working well with the family,” he said. He further praised the family for allowing the late president’s body to visit his home villages of Serowe and Palapye before being laid to rest in Gaborone.
“He will first go to Botalaote Kgotla, his house, before coming to the main Kgotla,” Kgosi Khumo explained, highlighting the careful orchestration of the farewell and the deep respect embedded in every step of the process. Indeed, the preparations extended beyond ceremonial gestures.
Villagers of all ages took part, each contributing in ways large and small.
Youth groups guided traffic and visitors, elders supervised arrangements, and children swept the pathways leading to the Kgotla.
Tents were erected to provide shelter while flower arrangements adorned the main thoroughfares. Traditional drummers and dancers rehearsed in anticipation of cultural performances that would honour Mogae’s memory, blending the solemnity of mourning with the celebratory rhythms of heritage. As the day progressed, the scale of Serowe’s dedication became increasingly clear. Every participant seemed aware that this was not just an event but a historic moment for the community.
Security arrangements were precise and visible, yet unobtrusive. Police officers and soldiers ensured the safety of the village and the orderly flow of mourners, while tribal leaders moved quietly among volunteers, offering guidance and reassurance. There was a careful balance between the formality of a state occasion and the intimate, heartfelt tribute of a community paying respect to one of its most distinguished sons. The significance of Serowe as the late president’s home village added emotional depth to the proceedings. As his body will be moving from Botalaote Kgotla to his residence and then towards the main Kgotla, it will trace a path that reflects both personal history and national achievement. Already, at his home, it is quite clear that Mogae is no more, and he will not be seen again. His neighbours are there with other family members to give people updates on what will be happening. Those who will attend the funeral on Saturday in Gaborone were writing their names, especially close family members, as Serowe Council will assist with a 65-seater bus for mourners. By evening, Serowe will be transformed. Streets, homes, and communal spaces will radiate respect and preparation, creating an atmosphere that is at once solemn, dignified, and celebratory.
Those who will view the body first will be dikgosi, family, councillors, together with Members of Parliament, village leaders, followed by the tribe.
Mogae is believed to have played a major role in Serowe. His contribution was mostly in schools, as he believed in education. Though he was said to have liked Gaborone life style but, he respected his culture and believed in visiting his home village during the festive season or whenever there was a death in his ward.