'Who Goes There: Khama or Kgosi?'

| Monday September 6, 2010 00:00

 

FRANCISTOWN: His name is Isaac Seabelo Kgosi, which makes his initials 'ISK'. The President of the Republic of Botswana is Seretse Khama Ian Khama, a name that his admirers shorten to 'SKI'.

In 1987, I was staying with a cousin at the Botswana Defence Force's (BDF) Sir Seretse Khama Barracks in Mogoditshane. Whenever Khama went past, soldiers could be heard whispering, 'Ke SKI.'

Except from seeing him in pictures, I had never heard Khama speak until he became Vice President and would laugh at himself as he laboured through Setswana at Kgotla meetings he addressed around the country.

One such meeting was in the Barolong area where he had taken along ministers and top civil servants, as was his wont. His address was broadcast live on Radio Botswana.

'Ebile ke tile le malata a me a tlaa araba dipotso tsa lona,' he said when he introduced his entourage. The word that stood out was 'malata', which, I suppose, he believed meant civil servants.

But it is a degrading and derogatory term that translates into slaves or lapdogs. Yet ululations punctuated the speech, apparently because the Barolong people and the civil servants being referred to immediately simply forgave Khama whose command of Setswana was very poor.

The two men - Khama and Kgosi - are known to be so close that when Khama retired from the army to become Vice President, he tagged Kgosi and made him his private secretary. It soon came to a point where it seemed Kgosi was the cogwheel for anything to do with Government.

When Khama established the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), it was Kgosi who was appointed the Director, or Director General, to be precise.

It was the first time I heard Kgosi make a speech recently when he addressed Francistown councillors to allay their fears that they were being shadowed by his spies.

Kgosi also denied any connection or involvement in the alleged extra-judicial killings that surfaced last year, among them with the execution-style slaying of John Kalafatis, who shot to fame 'anno Domini'.

As he spoke, his voice became shrill, as if with exasperation, inviting anyone with information to come forward. Except for his polished Setswana, it might have been Khama speaking.

'If anyone has concrete evidence that we kill people, let them come forward with it,' he intoned. 'I will duly resign and hand myself over to the police for justice to take its course.

'DIS has never been involved in killing anyone. Instead, we have always adhered to our mandate of making sure citizens of this country are safe and secure in their homes.'

Contacted afterwards, Kgosi, who in his introduction to the councillors had said was from Matsiloje but had grown up in Francistown, laughed off the comparison to Khama.

'I have never realized that I speak like the President. No one has ever said that to me,' he chuckled over the telephone.His demure response notwithstanding, people are known to assume the characteristics of their leaders, especially in speech and posture, more especially when they hold such leaders in adoration and reverence.

One such icon was the late President of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Dr Kenneth Koma, who had a penchant for exclaiming 'Thaka!'

Many cadres of 'the Front' found mimicking this - clearly an idiosyncrasy - hard to resist, and like their mentor used it to drive a point home or to feign surprise.

Even former president Festus Mogae came under this cult figure's spell and often uttered 'Thaka!' to convey a sense of camaraderie between political foes.

But for whatever comfort it brings, yours truly learns that mimicking leaders is not peculiar to humans. Domestic animals, I am told, are also prone to assuming the behaviour and mannerisms of their masters.

A dog, it is said, will look and behave like its master; so will a cow, a cat or a chicken!