No plans to repatriate ba-ga-Mphoeng- Kgamane

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 27, 2010 00:00

 

In an interview with Mmegi, Kgamane pointed out that ba-ga-Mphoeng, mostly made up of Bangwato, have not made any formal request for their repatriation.  'We know that ba-ga-Mphoeng are Bangwato proper but they have not told us that they would like to come back. If they don't say anything, our hands are tied and we are not able to do anything,' he said adding that this is a sensitive issue since it involved two sovereign countries.

Kgamane said he understands that ba-ga-Mphoeng once approached Kgosi Phokontsi Seeletso of Mmadinare on the subject of coming back to Botswana but the matter was not brought to his attention. He explained that during repatriation consultation with all stakeholders is important.

Kgamane said if ba-ga-Mphoeng were adamant about coming back 'home', the right procedure would be to consult with him so that he can take the matter to President Ian Khama, who also happens to be the Kgosikgolo of the Bangwato. He said after consultation within the Bangwato morafe, the Botswana government would then discuss the matter with their Zimbabwean counterparts. He added that the matter is likely to open old wounds if not handled with care.

In an earlier interview with Mmegi, Kgosi Seeletso said it is not clear if the ba-ga-Mphoeng want to be repatriated. He said when Pelokgale Seloma was still Botswana's ambassador to Zimbabwe they approached him about coming back to Botswana but failed to group and mobilize themselves. 'We are ready to support them. I thought they would have loved to come home because life is tough that side,' said Seeletso adding that he has close relatives in Mphoeng's Reserve. Mphoeng's Reserve was founded in the late 1890s when Khama had a fall-out with his younger half-brothers, Mphoeng and Raditladi. Khama had introduced tough Christian reforms including the banning of alcohol, which the Raditladis and Mphoengs challenged and that ended with their banishment to Zimbabwe. 

Mphoeng and Raditladi would also later have a fall-out between themselves after a sibling rivalry that ended in Raditladi coming back to the then Bechuanaland with some of his followers.  

Ba-ga-Mphoeng are not the only Batswana who ended up seeking refuge in Zimbabwe after a quarrel in pre-independence Botswana. Bakalanga-ba-ka-Nswazwi also fled to the neighbouring country after their leader had a misunderstanding with the Ngwato regent, Tshekedi Khama. At the turn of the century, ba-ka-Nswazwi initiated successful repatriation that included the reburial of their leader, Nswazwi in Botswana.