Bakwena royal inquiry postponed

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday March 10, 2010 00:00

 

On schedule at 9 o'clock for the meeting that never was, crestfallen Bakwena tribespeople were dispersed from their Kgotla in Molepolole because members of the task force appointed by President Ian Khama to interview them did not appear.

The task force comprises retired politicians Patrick Balopi and Ray Molomo, who deny that a meeting was ever scheduled for Tuesday.

The probe comes after Bakwena 'aristocrats,' led by deputy paramount chief Keineetse Sebele, allegedly approached Khama to help solve problems besieging their royal house, although the problems have not been openly stated.

Hundreds of the villagers who turned up to participate in the inquiry were disappointed when they learnt that even Kgosi Kgari III was not there but was instead attending a Ntlo Ya Dikgosi meeting in Gaborone.

Kgosi Keineetse Sebele told the tribespeople at the kgotla that the public enquiry was being postponed  indefinitely because it had been agreed that the task force should first have preliminary discussions with the tribal leadership.

But Mmegi has learnt from reliable sources at the kgotla that the preliminary discussions had taken place the previous day, Monday, at the council chambers in Molepolole and that those in attendance included Kgosi Kgari III, his deputy Keineetse, headmen of records and chief's representatives. Staff of Tribal Administration and members of the former Local Police were also present.

Although officers at the kgotla were reticent, sources in Molepolole told Mmegi that the tribespeople are so disaffected with their aristocrats that they no longer commiserate with them when bereavement strikes. At issue is the indiscriminate burial of the aristocrats' 'commoner' relatives Ko Ntsweng, traditionally the preserve of the royal dead.

The Bakwena royal cemetery was recently attacked by unknown persons who destroyed headstones. The headstone of Sebele I took the brunt of the assault. Mmegi was taken on a tour of the royal cemetery yesterday and shown eight unadorned graves containing the remains of the 'commoners.'