Villagers want Bagai to succeed late Kgosi Sebina
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday January 18, 2017 15:23
Kgosi Sebina died two months back after a long illness and government is yet to find his replacement.
Kgosi Kenosi Phuthego of Thene ward in Sebina told Mmegi that even though Government has not yet engaged them in finding the deceased’s replacement, villagers view Kgosi Bagai as fit to take over the position.
The chieftainship of Sebina village under BB1 Kgotla for years has been surrounded by controversy because residents are not happy that unlike other villages they do not have a senior tribal authority and headman of records of their own choice.
Last September, the Bangwato royal family appointed Shathani Mokoka of Marapong village to be the new headman of records for BB1 Kgotla in Sebina, something that is a sore point among villagers even today.
Even though the vacant position is supposed to be rotated amongst the eight villages of Marobela, Nshakazhogwe, Marapong, Kombani and Sebina known as Manshamakose, villagers in Sebina residents are no longer comfortable with the arrangement.
Following the installation of Mokoka, residents cried foul over ‘colonisation’ by Bangwato royals.
“Even though we do not know who the Bangwato royals will appoint to succeed the late Kgosi Sebina, as the village leadership we want that person to be from our village because currently we are being lead by an outsider in Kgosi Mokoka,” Phuthego said.
Phuthego said following the death of their former Kgosi, the village leadership had discussed the matter and proposed that Kgosi Bagai should take over the position if Bangwato allow them to choose their own kgosi.
“We are concerned by the issues surrounding our village chieftainship and have agreed as the village headmen (dikgosana) to hold a meeting today (Wednesday) to discuss them further,” said Phuthego.
He said that they had long asked to have a kgosi of their own, but their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
“We are not happy that the Bangwato royals make key decisions governing our lives in our village. Our wish is to be allowed to appoint our own chiefs,” Phuthego said.
For her part, Shathani Kgakanyane, the headman of Sebina ward and the daughter of the late Kgosi, shared Phuthego’s sentiments saying Sebina villagers were currently using the Manshamakose Kgotla as their main Kgotla.
“We don’t have privacy because we discuss our issues in front of Manshamakose chiefs. This is not fair, we want our own chiefs in our own Kgotla,” Kgakanyane said.
Reached for a comment Kgosi Bagai declined to comment, saying the matter was sensitive and the subject of village discussions.
Bagai however denied reports that villagers were fed up with Bangwato royals and wanted their own Kgotla.
“We are currently waiting for the Bangwato royals to appoint the next Kgosi because they are aware of their Kgosi’s passing,” he said.