Khama to respond to Bakgatla this week
Lerato Maleke | Tuesday June 10, 2014 15:20
“A response should be expected some time this week,” Ramsay said, without specifying a date. Last Friday, hundreds of Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela in Mochudi marched from one side of the village to the other, headed by the Mangana regiment, to hand over the petition to Kgatleng District Commissioner, Wame Samapipi. The march followed a night vigil at the main kgotla.
In the petition, the tribe demands unconditional and immediate retraction of government’s de-recognition of Paramount Chief Kgafela and Kgosi Bana Sekai Linchwe as well as the withdrawal of the arrest warrant against the former.
The tribesmen also demand the dropping of all pending charges against Kgafela, Sekai and others and that “government must desist from making decisions concerning bogosi and the culture of Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela without consulting the morafe”. Kgafela, Sekai and other tribesmsn are facing various charges relating to the introduction of flogging of several villagers by mephato (regiment) under the Paramount Chief’s direction.
A warrant of arrest is in effect against Kgafela whom the state says escaped to South Africa to avoid justice in Botswana. “The urgency in addressing this matter cannot be over-emphasised and we bank on your constructive, calm and collected logical advances and endeavors to hasten to cordially and cognitively address issues affecting Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela,” the petition to Khama reads. “In the wake of the significance and essence of unity, organisation and cooperation, we seek a swift response and ideal pragmatic stance and deed to resolve matters stated, for a peaceful coexistence” states the petition.
Bakgatla say bogosi comes by ‘birthright not by vote’ and any attempt by government to change the tradition by deposing Kgafela would be intepreted as placing the tribe under siege. The petition states that tribesman have found it ‘increasingly difficult’ to ignore the “fact that for reasons best known to Khama, his government is on a roll to annihilate the bogosi jwa Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela”.
“You have derecognised our Kgosi Bana Sekai Linchwe and we do not want your government to ultimately derecognise us as a morafe wa Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela,” the petition reads.
“Mr President, we accept your strength as head of state, commander in chief of security forces and Paramount Chief of Bangwato, but we refuse as morafe wa Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela to allow your government to outlaw our bogosi,” reads the petition.
It states: “We are prepared with the greatest passion to trade or sell our heads in defending our bogosi against any force of destruction.”
Bakgatla say the cultural and traditional restoration ushered in by Kgafela after his coronation in 2008, had reduced drunkenness, illegal brews, excessive noisemaking and general crime in the area.
Government has said the cultural initiatives are behind the floggings that ultimately resulted in a court case against Kgafela and other royals. States the petition: “Our culture, tradition and bogosi have the right to be respected and preserved and we are a united morafe with respect for self and other merafe and let this noble culture not be allowed to slip through our fingers.”