Batlokwa to unveil Gaborone statue

KHONANI ONTEBETSE
Correspondent | Wednesday December 12, 2007 00:00

 

Speaking at a Kgotla meeting, Batlokwa chief Puso Gaborone revealed that the statue belongs to Kgosi Gaborone who led Batlokwa from Pretoria, South Africa, in the 1880s and later migrated to Lesotho before settling in Botswana.

'Gaborone city was named after the late Gaborone whose statue we will unveil around May next year. No date has been set yet but the statue will be unveiled here in the Batlokwa main kgotla,' he said. Preparations are underway to set up a steering committee. Contributions towards the historic event are P50 by members of the public and P100 for dikgosana. The event will be a plus to the historic coronation that occurred in Tlokweng when Puso Gaborone was draped with a leopard skin earlier this year.

Speaking at the same Kgotla, Kgosi Gaborone expressed worry that some Batlokwa residents do not take Kgotla meetings seriously.

'I'm concerned about the people who do not attend Kgotla meetings. I urge those who attend Kgotla meetings to continue doing so,' he said. He reminded Batlokwa who thronged the Kgotla that during his installation, he had pledged to work closely with them.

'But how are we going to make progress and develop our village if only a handful of people attend Kgotla meetings?' he asked rhetorically. He said some people did not turn up at the Kgotla not necessarily because they were unaware of the meeting but because of apathy. He further expressed disappointment at the way some residents fail to honour their commitments towards the development of their village.

'It is disappointing that only a few people attend Kgotla meetings. These meetings are widely publicised; so no one can claim that they did not know anything about them. Those who do not attend Kgotla meetings are failing to exercise their democratic rights,' he said.

Gaborone appealed to Batlokwa to unite and work together for the development of their village. He encouraged Batlokwa to attend Kgotla meetings as there are many benefits such as sharing ideas on how best to fight crime and other social problems. Still on the low turnout, Gaborone noted that in the past Batlokwa, used to attend Kgotla meetings in vast numbers.

He was at loss as to why suddenly people were no longer keen to participate in Kgotla meetings.

'It is disappointing to note that some residents do not discharge their civic duties. The development of this village is a challenge that requires a united approach,' he emphasised. Responding to some of the complaints residents raised, Gaborone said he did not condone wayward behaviour displayed by some people during funerals but added that the onus was on the bereaved families to throw the book at those who misbehave.

'It does not necessarily mean that as your leaders or the dikgosi we have to go and interfere with the funeral arrangements or tell you how you should deal with dissidents. You should take the responsibility and flog those undesirable elements,' he said.

Gaborone also lambasted Batlokwa who employ illegal immigrants as such aliens engage in crime.

He said there is need to resuscitate the spirit of self-reliance among the people.

Residents also expressed concern about the livestock, especially cattle that roam the village. They complained that stray cattle contribute to road accidents in the village whose busy highway leads to the South African border.
(Sila Press Agency)