Basarwa livid after bogosi snub

Tefo Pheage | Thursday August 25, 2016 18:00

 

Members of the community had written to Kgamane mid-2015 asking him to pick someone from their ranks for the vacant post of tribal leader in the Nata chieftancy. Nata is led by three tribal leaders comprising senior tribal leader, tribal leader and headman.

Although the post was heavily campaigned for by Basarwa, as well as the village’s second in command, it was revealed this week that Kgamane had promoted the third in command, Letsogo Kgasa to the position of tribal leader.

The decision has left many Basarwa stunned and reinforced arguments that while Nata, which is under the Bangwato Tribal Authority, is a multi-ethnic village the San community is ruled over and marginalised by ‘outsiders’ in their own land. Yesterday, the chairman of Botswana Khwedom Council, Leakwa Galenkutlwe told Mmegi that they are disappointed with Kgamane’s decision to ignore their plea, without even acknowledging or responding to their letter. He however said all is not lost.

“We are still pinning our hopes on the vacancy left by Kgasa. We do not have a problem with Kgasa as a leader; our case is that we should also be part of the decision-making process and be recognised.

“The mere fact that Kgamane did not respond to the letter is clear testimony that he doesn’t take Basarwa or the issues they raised seriously,” he said.

Galenkutlwe said they would soon be descending on Nata to mount another campaign for the vacancy left by Kgasa’s promotion. “We are still hopeful that sanity will prevail. Basarwa are also people and if they can’t recognise us, at least they should remember what the Affirmative Action programme says,” he said.

In their October 8, 2015 letter, Basarwa said elsewhere in the country, tribes were led by people from within their own ranks, except in their community.

“In every location in Botswana there are tribes in that locality and a person from that tribe is expected to be a chief of that predominant tribe. In Nata it is common cause that Basarwa are the inhabitants of that area and other tribes settled there recently.

“It is therefore befitting that a chief for Nata should come from the San community. We therefore urge all concerned that Basarwa of Nata should be left to choose from their own to lead them. The time has come that Basarwa are given their rights back. No tribe, except Basarwa has a right to chieftaincy in Nata, just like Basarwa do not have the right to chieftaincy in places where these tribes are dominant,” the letter read.

The letter furthermore read: “Bangwato in Nata have their chief in Serowe, the Bakhurutshe in Nata have their chief in Mmankgodi and the Bakalaka have their chiefs in North east. Let Basarwa also have their chief in Nata”.

Efforts to reach Kgamane were unsuccessful as his office numbers rang unanswered.