Hukuntsi, Kang forgotten era Bogosi disputes still rage on
Zolani Kraai | Friday November 7, 2014 15:13
The disputes, which have their roots in the colonial era of the 1930s, have recently been going back and forth between the offices of the responsible minister and the respective kgotlas of the two villages.
With the Hukuntsi Bogosi, former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Peter Siele, tried to resolve the impasse by installing Cosmos Biki Moapare, the eldest son to the late Kgosi Anthony Moapare. Kgosi Anthony Moapare died in October 2012 and Molaodi Leipego, the current protagonist in the matter, was appointed acting kgosi.
On July 22, last year, Cosmos Biki Moapare was installed substantive kgosi despite grousing by the Leipego family. Responding to a Mmegi questionnaire sent to him last month, Department of Tribal Administration’s Assistant Director Geoffrey Moitlobo had this to say: “On October 2012, Kgosi Anthony Moapare passed on and since he was recognised as Kgosi it was common knowledge that one of his children, particularly the eldest son, as it is a patriarchal tradition, would take over. “The Moapare family therefore designated one Cosmos Biki Moapare, the eldest son to ascend the throne. This decision did not go down well with the Leipego family seemingly resuscitating an issue thought to be dead and buried.”
He further said the Leipego family insisted that the Bogosi belongs to them since they were senior to the Moapare family in accordance with the family lineage.
Moitlobo’s comments were somewhat confirmed when Mmegi contacted Kgosi Leipego who was initially reluctant to respond.
Mmegi had sought to determine whether he had accepted the outcome of the matter in which it was the Moapare family that eventually prevailed when their son took over as Kgosi.
Sounding somewhat annoyed by the call for an interview, he first insisted on a face-to-face interview, though he later grudgingly commented when pressed. Leipego said in one of his kgotla meetings, the Minister consulted the tribe on the matter and informed them that a decision had been made.
“The minister has made a decision,” said Leipego, who nevertheless still protested that Mmegi should have met him in person. “I have records that I would want to share with you regarding this matter and that will make you and your readers understand the facts surrounding this matter. “The records I have date back to the 1930s and they would shed light on the matter,” he said. Mmegi has it on good authority that both the Leipego and Moapare families have always claimed to be the rightful heirs to the Hukuntsi throne.
On July 14, 1993, the Court of Appeal delivered a verdict in a matter between Legodimo Kgotlafela Leipego as applicant and Anthony Pesalema Moapare (now deceased) as respondent.
The then Minister of Local Government, Lands and Housing, then District Commissioner, Eric Molale, and the Attorney General were also respondents in the matter. The final verdict by the court was in favour of the respondents and the applicant lost with cost. Kgosi Anthony Pesalema Moapare was draped in a leopard skin as a traditional way of installing a Kgosi not a regent.
Meanwhile, Mmegi has since learnt from Moitlobo that following the passing on of Kgosi Church Seipone in 2010, a dispute erupted on the rightful heir of Kang Bogosi and the contestants are the Seipone and the Motaung families. After numerous consultations with the Kang community failed to resolve the matter, both parties have now been requested by Siele to urgently contact his former for him to make a decision.
Facts of the matter are that late Kgosi Seipone, a court clerk in Bogogobo and Kolonkwaneng, was appointed Kgosi in 1972 as the Motaung family were rooting for one of their own to take over.
Prior to Seipone’s installment, several unsuccessful meetings were held between the warring royal families to determine the heir to the throne.
An issue that mirrors the 1972 installment of Church Seipone has since surfaced. The Motaung family has recommended Abel Motaung, Thusoyaone Motaung and Ompone Motaung for the position, while the Seipone family has proffered the name of Church’s daughter Basadi. The Motaungs argue that their father was unceremoniously and unlawfully de-recognised by the colonial commissioners. Their father, Pego Motaung, was accused by the colonial powers of “compromised work ethics and bad attitude while in office”.
In records, dating back to the 1960s, obtained from the Botswana National Archives and Records, Kgosi Pego was dethroned following numerous exchanges of savingrams between the British Colonial authorities.
In one of the savingrams, the then District Commissioner described Kgosi Motaung as illiterate and always drunk.
Seipone’s appointment was vehemently disputed the Motaung family as they believed that since their father was older than the former and as such was the rightful heir. As things stand, one Morabeng Phori, a headman of records in one of the village wards, has been appointed acting Kgosi at Kang and will hold the fort until the dispute is resolved and a substantive kgosi is installed.