Matolwane/Lesenepole committee seeks Khama�s mediation in name wrangle
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday April 29, 2015 14:40
The village has been embroiled in a bitter name wrangle since 1997 since some residents want the village called Lesenopole, while villagers those from Moremi, Matoposane and Raphiri wards want it named Matolwane.
Lesenepole/Matolwane chief Ikalafeng Senwedi, who is yet to be officially installed to succeed the late Kgosi Mokgobelo, confirmed that a delegation had already sought appointment at the office of the President.
“I know that the delegation has already met with the private secretary to the President and are awaiting the response. We believe that elections, as the high court ruled lastly, would not solve anything as the losing party will always protest,” he stated.
Senwedi also said that their wish was for elections to be avoided and allow President Khama to recommend that each party be granted village status.
The village naming issue was initially registered before the courts of law in 1997.
Lesenepole camp spokesperson, Gaotlhobogwe Mosebi confirmed that once an appointment had been secured with President Khama, the delegation would leave the village to meet him. He also said that the August 2014 court ruling had ordered that elections be held in the village to determine the name.
“We are now wondering why there is no progress in the matter yet those who should facilitate the elections were duly notified,” he said.The Lobatse High Court concluded the initial ruling in May 2005, but elections weren’t held until the other parties had returned to court to challenge the decision that had led to the suspension of the ruling.
“We applied again to the high court in 2012, to make a follow up since the ruling was never effected. In the beginning of 2014, we went to court again and the ruling that elections be held was reinstated but nothing has happened to date, yet is clearly stated that elections should be held within three months,” he said.
Mosebi added that they wanted President Khama to resolve the matter.