Culprits must be flogged, says Kgosi Makgasane

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 3, 2010 00:00

Speaking to Mmegi during an interview, Makgasane said that flogging is the right way of dealing with youth delinquency in his village, which he says is fuelled by drunkenness.

'My people are okay with flogging and they say that both male and female culprits should be flogged on the back as that is the most effective method,' he said, adding that in the past it was common practice.

The Kgosi conceded that the constitution does not allow him to flog people on the back in his Kgotla but his dikgosana are allowed to do so as the morafe welcomed the suggestion during a Kgotla meeting.

Makgasane also said the residents of Lentsweletau have agreed that people should stop playing loud music after 7:00 pm and that if anyone is caught playing music beyond the stipulated time, his radio will be confiscated by the mophato on duty. He added that the kgosana of the culprit would be flogged because she is tasked with bringing order in her kgotla and this will also mean failure on her part.

Makgasane said that although he is aware that the constitution of Botswana does not allow flogging on the bareback, he believes that it is effective as opposed to whipping somebody on the buttocks.

He said that his Kgotla is working with the police to start vigilante groups to patrol the village at night so as to bring back law and order.

He expressed determination to revive some aspects of the Bakwena culture including, bogwera and bojale (initiation ceremonies), mephato (age-regiments) and dikgafela (thanksgiving ceremonies).  He said that if things go according to plan he is going to send some youth to attend the next bogwera and bojale at Kgatleng.

'We are in the process of reviving most aspects of the Setswana culture and we are doing this in consultation with the main Kgotla at Molepolole,' Makgasane asserted.

He also said that although he is working with the Molepolole Kgotla, if they are slow to respond to his requests, he is ready to continue with this initiative alone.

Makgasane oversees a number of villages namely Lentsweletau, Kgope, Dikgatlhong, Rramanhung, Mahetlwe, Ditshukudu, Hatsalatladi, Medie and Kweneng.