Mmadinare identity crisis

| Friday June 24, 2011 00:00

 

The title of the article portrays a 'Sengwato mentality' which is centred on power, subjugation and control. The article further portrays Kgosi Seeletso's narrow view of events.

It was unfortunate for him to lace his knowledge deficit of Mmadinare with half-truths. Such misinformation and arrogance cannot go unchallenged. We urge the reader to conceptualise the whole saga as a move to unravel an identity crisis for a people under siege. Mmadinare has been invaded and its core values have been or are being dismantled with impunity. Mmadinare traditional governance structure was based on four pillars or wards by the names of Kelele, Seboo, Manga and Matabi. The indigenous Dikgosi of these four wards are the rightful rulers of Mmadinare. Of late, the four wards are side-lined, gagged and made objects of ridicule.

In 1916 Mellie (Mma Koobadile), the daughter of Khama III was assigned to Mmadinare and her husband Phethu Mphoeng was appointed governor of the village.  The Mphoeng family did not bring any of their relatives to Mmadinare only their servants whose duty was  to attend to the family chores such as cooking, driving, heading of cattle and keeping the Kgotla fire burning. Phethu created a fifth Kgotla by the name Mosokolo at the village centre. They occupied only a small space due to their numbers.

Upon Phethu's death, his brother, Oteng Mphoeng migrated from Serowe and installed himself as chief representative of Ba ga Mmangwato. Oteng Mphoeng introduced a new dimension; all migrants to Mmadinare were to belong to Mosokolo ward irrespective of their ward of residence.

All migrant teachers, church leaders, doctors, traders and civil servants belonged to Mosokolo ward by default.

Families that were brought to Mmadinare by Phethu have since multiplied. Mmadinare has since been ruled by subsequent appointees from Serowe. Kgosi Seeletso is one such appointee.  As a fresh migrant to Mmadinare, he belongs to Mosokolo ward by default. Kgosi Seeletso has harnessed and consolidated the power of these migrants to develop the ruling elites. In the process, Mmadinare has been polarised. The original inhabitants are fighting for recognition against Mosokolo ward. Kgosi Seeletso seems to be a man on a mission. He has recognised the polarity within the village and has sharpened his efforts and mandate to transform Mmadinare into a mini Serowe. In the process, the original Mmadinare traditional governance structures, tribal identity and value systems are being destroyed at an exponential rate.

Any migrant to Mmadinare from Serowe is accorded a higher social status when compared to the original inhabitants irrespective of credentials. 

Families with connection to Serowe are treated with respect by the current Mmadinare tribal administration.

Connections are the in thing. It has since emerged that these links to Serowe could be attained through marriage, migration, friendship or bolope. There is talk in the village that some connections are achieved through bribery. I am of the view that some of these connections are planned purely to dilute the voice of the bonafide inhabitants in order to rule in perpetuity.  Any complaints about such appointments are disregarded. A typical example of such an appointment is a 'Mere' sub ward created within Kelele ward without the knowledge of Boo Kelele and their chief. 

The sub ward is composed of not more than five families. All sub ward members have a similar surname and common grandparent and their migration to Mmadinare is only recent.

Another example is that of a sub ward called Mokobi, which was created in Manga ward. It is a one family affair - The paternal uncles are missing from the equation - therefore without Bo Rrangwane no one can stand on behalf of the chief when he is absent. As it were, the wife acts on behalf of the chief for all official engagements when he is absent.

Younger chiefs within the four main pillars of the village are promoted and made to be at par with their elders.

The favoured or promoted young chiefs are heavily aligned to Kgosi Seeletso. Currently, the top three posts in the Mmadinare Tribal Administration are held by people with connection to Serowe.  The number one post is held by Kgosi Seeletso who was born and bred in Serowe. He only came to Mmadinare to rule people perceived incapable of ruling themselves. In short, people who are perceived to be inferior. His allegiance to Serowe is supreme and he cannot entertain power sharing, suggestions or ideas from inferior peoples.

The second in command, designated as Assistant Chief is a South African by birth. Her only credential to the throne is through marriage to a Mongwato. Her appointment was sponsored by people with a connection to Serowe. In their letter of the 9/11/1990, penned by the hand of John Phakedi, it was stated that the sole reason for her appointment was for her to earn a salary in order to put food on the table.  Her appointment caused a big row in Mmadinare.

The senior members of the tribe tried to protest without success. Their verbal complaints were ignored. Any dissenting voice was quickly quashed by the 'dictatorial' administration.  As could be assumed of rural people, they did not have any alternative forum for complaint.

The third in command is the Headman of Record, who was unilaterally appointed by Kgosi Seeletso without consultation with either Dikgosi tsa Mmadinare or the residents.  Although he hails from Matabi ward, he has since dissociated himself from Matabi residents. He dances only to his master's tune. 

Kgosi Seeletso claims to have used the powers enshrined on him by the 'Chieftainship Act' to appoint unilaterally.  Mmadinare people question the authenticity of those powers since the appointee is not their preferred choice. 

In 1993, Mmadinare residents wrote a petition to the Ministry of Local Government and Lands appealing against the governance of Kgosi Seeletso, his deputy, the headman of records and the destabilisation effects of Mosokolo ward.  The appeals were ignored and ultimately 10 citizens were singled out as 'The Notorious Group Ten'. They were grilled and persecuted by Kgosi Seeletso's management.

As if this was not enough, the village pillars are being sidelined in all decision-making processes. Consultations are made only within Mosokolo ward from where the decisions are made. Other dikgosi are used as rubber stamps.   The sons and daughters of the soil are desperately trying to reverse this phenomenon. They want to regain what is theirs.  In return, they are lab led as a small group of ex-soldiers.  Perhaps, Kgosi wanted to give them a rebellious and insignificant outlook by labelling them as a  'small group of ex-soldiers.'  Please be informed that Mmadinare residents are very concerned. This includes their sons and daughters who may have worked for the disciplined forces.  At any rate it is not polite to label people as ex- 'so and so'. I am convinced that it would be wrong even to imply that our administration is composed of ex-drivers or ex-housewives.

In Setswana we say 'Susu ilela suswane gore suswane le ene a go ilele'. 

An in-depth narration of the Mmadinare chieftaincy crisis will follow next week. Responses are welcome through the papers; Box 35, Mmadinare; or chiefkmarumo@gmail.com.  Chief Keoganetse Marumo -  ITHO LA MOTSE