A ko le iketleleng Kgosi ya Batawana!

Keletso Thobega | Tuesday October 14, 2014 10:13

 

I would understand if they had said he had failed to represent his constituents or had squandered public funds. It’s dodgy to stoop so low and jibe a man’s masculinity and air his dirty laundry in public. At least he is virile and potent; he has three children to his name. He also got married, unlike those who have failed at dating level. Before some of you get tjatjarag, I must point out that Kgosi Tawana is an adult who can defend himself. However, I found this issue disturbing. Everything about it is just wrong, especially as elders led this onslaught.  

I am disappointed that Tawana’s ex-wife agreed to be embroiled in petty politics. Although she is a member of the ruling party, I suspect she is being used. She may not like her ex-husband anymore but at the end of the day, Tawana is the father of her children. A lady of integrity would not agree to sit back smugly and watch, as the father of her own children is publicly humiliated. They may have had a turbulent marriage but that’s none of our business. There should be an element of veracity, pride and honour. Animosity in an adult woman is an unattractive characteristic. 

Although I’m not married and don’t have much interest in marriage, I am aware that when a woman enters matrimony she is advised by elders. O a laiwa. She is taught to respect and humble herself before her husband whatever the situation.  A woman must have pride and guard her personal life. Mosadi o thiba ka marago (not literally); she protects those close to her. This shouldn’t stop when the marriage ends. The connection between Tawana and his ex-wife is indissoluble because they had a life and children together. Unfortunately, there are people who when a relationship ends, want to “fix” the next person and even include third parties with skewed agendas.

All other issues aside, can you imagine how Tawana’s children feel? One day the heir will be grown up and be in a position to think for himself. I don’t think he will be impressed that his own father, the chief, was ridiculed and insulted on public platforms about his personal life. At the end of the day, blood is thicker than water and no matter who says what, a child’s loyalty and love will always be with their biological parent.

Politics is politics. Below the belt antics are to be expected but there should be boundaries. Akere ba tlhola ba bua ka mananeo, mo malapeng a batho go batliwa eng?

If we questioned some people’s sexuality, exposed infidelities and how they dip into coffers, discussed health statuses and financial situations, or spoke of what some do in the cover of the night we would be bedeviled. Everyone has bones in their closet but it’s inhumane and unethical to chasten individuals by peddling their life misfortunes. There are no permanent situations. Life can chew you out like phlegm anytime, because like a wheel, sometimes you are up and sometimes you are down. Like everyone else, Tawana has shortcomings and weaknesses, but he should be accorded respect, if not for anything else, by virtue of being Kgosi. Chieftaincy is sacred. As Africans we had Chiefs way before we were introduced to missionaries and politics. Being in the public eye doesn’t limit any leader’s personal rights and freedom. 

Personally, when someone badmouths another person, I don’t judge the person being defiled but the one perpetuating the negative utterances. Wise mature people don’t partake in character assassination. Our intelligence is being undermined. It’s not like we don’t see what’s going on. Politics is not war. Tawana may have jumped ship to the opposition but it’s not a sin. He probably doesn’t share the ruling party’s ideology and that’s fine. Re tlhola re nwa le ma-UDC, le ba-MELS tota, batle ba re siele, it’s not a problem. It is unsettling that in desperation to garner votes, some politicians launch acrimonious attacks based on certain individuals’ private lives.