No justice for men with dreads, earrings, in Maun

Lekopanye Mooketsi | Monday July 28, 2014 18:03

KIND OF MEN: A picture showing American football player Larry Darnell Fitzgerald, he is the kind of man that is banned at Maun Kgotla because of earrings and dreadlocks

The ban, by the Batawana tribal leaders, was enforced last year. This week, Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe told The Monitor that the ban, not to serve men deemed undesirable at the Kgotla, was taken by the morafe. It was not a unilateral decision by Bogosi. Letsholathebe said the decision was taken to preserve the social values of the tribe. He said they are not discriminating against anyone but want people to respect the Kgotla as a sacred place.

Kgosi Tawana Moremi, who is also the MP for Maun West, said he had nothing to do with the ban and was not briefed about it. But he said it is not necessary to consult him about decisions that are taken at the Kgotla. However, Tawana would not say whether he supports or disapproves of the ban.

The new Maun District Commissioner Keabetswe Lesiela said he does not know about the ban because he only came to Ngamiland in June. Lesiela said if there was such a decree in force, he does not know what informed the decision.

“I don’t know what my predecessor discussed with them,” said Lesiela. He said he would meet with tribal leaders so that they could brief him on the issue. Lesiela said as far as the government policy is concerned, everyone is entitled to a service in government offices irrespective of their religion or what ever. He said members of the public could not be denied assistance in government offices.

Maun lawyer, Lawrence Lecha who is also the chairperson of the Law Society of Botswana, said he was shocked to learn about this development and it was unfair. “I am totally shocked. I don’t agree with it,” he said. Lecha said the Constitution does not allow any form of discrimination based on religion, culture or fashion. He said the decision is also against the law. He added that if somebody were to take the tribal leaders to task, they would be in trouble. Lecha said he does not see anything wrong with dreadlocks. “In fact people with dreadlocks are smarter than some of us,” he said.

A Rastafarian, Ras Bogosi slammed the decision. “It is not acceptable. I don’t know if this is happening in Maun only. Our stand is that the constitution allows for freedom of worship. Every Motswana has the right to a choice of religion,” he said.

He said at some stage they wanted to mobilise Rastas in Maun to rise against the decision.

Bogosi said Rastas always face discrimination and Rasta schoolteachers have been forced to cut their dreads in some schools. He added that even their children are always kicked out of schools. He said they always drum it to such school authorities that every Motswana has a right to education.

In a related development, last year Maun tribal leaders banned wedding ceremonies during ploughing season.