Royal tension brewing over Montshioa�s presidential award
Tefo Pheage | Friday November 25, 2016 16:39
The widow of the late Barolong tribal leader in South Africa, Neonyana Montshioa, says she has never received or heard anything official in relation to the award given to his late husband by President Ian Khama.
Kgosi Montshioa was one of the 75 recipients honored by Khama in recognition of their input in building this nation during the celebration of the Botswana’s 50th anniversary in September. Kgosi Lotlamoreng II, who is also the MP for Goodhope-Mabule, received the award on behalf of his grandfather and seems not intending to take it across the border.
Montshioa’s widow is confused, as she was never officially informed of its existence. She expressed disappointment at the way the awards were managed, further attacking the Office of the President (OP) and those who received the award on her behalf without her knowledge.
The widow and stepson Jeff Montshioa who are both based in South Africa are Montshioa’s immediate family. Montshioa leads the South African-based Barolong in Mafikeng.
The distressed widow said she was lucky to have encountered three different individuals who broke the news to her, that her husband was among the people who were honored recently by Khama. “I wondered why the Government of Botswana sidestepped me knowing very well that I am still alive and active,” she said.
“I’m told Kgosi Lotlamoreng II received the award but I doubt because I have never received or heard anything from him in relation to that and I cannot ask him,” she said. She further said Lotlamoreng’s mother whom she speaks to regularly has not said anything to her either.
“Our leader Jeff Montshioa as well seems clueless as he has not hinted anything to me. I am not complaining or demanding the award but I am shocked because I do not know who to point a finger at between the government and Kgosi Lotlamoreng.”
The OP has since distanced itself from the saga. The OP explained that they wrote to Bogosi to assist with the recipients and explained that they had no doubts on Barolong tribal authority’s choice or decision. Lotlamoreng subsequently received it.
“All recipients undertook to deliver the awards to the right people and the award for Kgosi Montshioa was not different,” said the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi.
Lotlamoreng on the other hand is not very clear of what his intention is. He does not say whether he would deliver it to the widow or not.
All he could share with Mmegi is that he received the award on behalf of the family, insisting that he was family as Montshioa was his grandfather.
“The Office of the President called me to come and the receive the award, and I was further advised not to invite many people so I came to receive the award. It is at my place,” Lotlamoreng said.