Bangwaketse, Bahurutshe royal dispute turns sour
Pini Bothoko | Thursday August 31, 2017 16:33
Mmegi has learnt that relations reached a new low on Tuesday, when Wildlife Department officers swooped on the Manyana Kgotla attempting to confiscate the leopard and lion skins Kgosi Mosielele is due to wear at the weekend event. Kgosi Mosielele, who resisted the attempts to confiscate, has said the skins will only be released upon production of a court order by the royals’ rivals.
In a case of ‘two bulls in one kraal’, it is believed Bangwaketse feel Mosielele’s wearing of a leopard and lion hides would be a direct challenge to the authority of Bangwaketse chief, Kgosi Malope II, who presides over the entire territory, including Manyana.
The Bangwaketse believe that the Bahurutshe of Manyana are within their (Bangwaketse) territory and only one chief in the region, of the Bangwaketse, can be draped in the leopard skin.
Just as the village of Manyana prepares for the weekend event where they expect Kgosi Mosielele to wear the animal skins, a court challenge could be looming.
Yesterday, Kgosi Mosielele told Mmegi that Tuesday’s events had come as a shock as permission had been granted from the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama for them to acquire the hides for the coronation.
“About three weeks ago, we received the leopard and lion hides as we had requested them from the ministry.
“I was therefore shocked to see officers demanding to confiscate the skins, especially on the eve of our traditional ceremony,” he said.
Kgosi Mosielele said he had refused the hand over the skins.
“After a few hours, the officers returned with a letter from Khama quoting sections that they were using to withdraw their offer of the hides,” he said. “The letter also stated that a directive from Kgosi Malope II had also influenced the decision. “I was shocked at Kgosi Malope’s decision to block our ceremony because as the Bahurutshe of Manyana, we are not in any bogosi disputes with them.
“My people are not happy with this because preparations for the weekend celebration are almost complete.”
Kgosi Mosielele said while he is aware and understands that administratively Kgosi Malope II is his “boss”, putting on the leopard and lion skins should not threaten the Bangwaketse chief. “I will be wearing that skin as a symbol of my culture and as the Manyana village Kgosi, not Bangwaketse chief. The wearing of the skin does not come with any powers, and therefore Kgosi Malope II will remain my overlord.
“I don’t know what is threatening him,” Mosielele said. Kgosi Mosielele disclosed that his late father, Kgosi Mareko Mosielele used to wear a leopard skin and the former chief of Bangwaketse Kgosi Bathoen II had no issue with that.
“I showed the officers my late father’s photo putting on a leopard skin in 1952 to demonstrate that it was something I inherited from my father,” Kgosi Mosielele said.
Efforts to reach Kgosi Malope and Khama were unsuccessful by press time yesterday.