Moatlhodi cries at Jamataka Kgotla
Pini Bothoko | Monday June 29, 2015 17:01
The former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activist famous for rolling on the ground during political rallies, on Friday at the inauguration ceremony of Kgosi Mosalagae Galebonwe at Jamataka, pulled another stunt.
Moatlhodi, who was not on the programme, cried when he was given a chance to greet the people of Jamataka as their former MP.
With tears streaming down his cheeks, the former parliamentarian explained the struggle the villagers endured to attain village status in 2001.
He said he is happy now that the battle for the village to be officially declared a village is over and its Kgosi inaugurated.
He narrated how he fought the Ngwato Land Board when it arrived with bulldozers to demolish the homes of the Jamataka residents.
Moatlhodi related that in 1952 Kgosi Rasebolai Kgamane selected seven Basarwa men to settle at Jamataka pool (Mogobe) to look after the cattle of Bangwato.
Moatlhodi said that is how the village came into being, as people stayed around the pond until they formed a settlement and named it after the pool of Jamataka.
“I fought so hard for Jamataka to be declared a village with the help of this village’s late Kgosi Boy Gabatwaele and another vocal man, the late Segootsane Letlotla.
“I could not face people destroying the village that Kgosi Kgamane made, with some farmers saying it was now a grazing area for their livestock,” said Moatlhodi.
Moathodi said that he was happy to witness the inauguration of Kgosi Galebonwe because it was a display of the development that is underway in the village.
Other developments at the village he spoke of include; the upgrading of their Kgotla from a Kgotla of Arbitration to a Kgotla of Records.
Moatlhodi encouraged residents to consider errecting a statue for the late Kgosi Gabatlwaele to honour him for the struggle he underwent for Jamataka to be declared a village.
He advised residents to support their youthful chief, and give him the respect he deserves now that he is faced with the challenging task of Bogosi.
Village senior citizen and the mother of former Minister of Finance, Baledzi Gaolathe, Gasemotho Gaolathe testified that Moatlhodi fought hard for their village to be declared a village.
The old woman, who is also one of the first people to settle at Jamataka and was part of the battle, expressed her joy for Jamataka village’s development and finalaly being under the rule of its own chief.