Kgatleng visit: Khama makes U-turn?

LAWRENCE SERETSE
Correspondent | Thursday January 19, 2012 00:00

 

However, Mogwe issued a statement yesterday morning, apologising for the announcement and that the President would not be going to Kgatleng as previously announced.

'This notice is to inform you that His Excellency will not be present in Kgatleng district. I apologise for the erroneous information sent yesterday. Unfortunately, the President has a prior scheduled commitment out of Gaborone. 

However, the hand over had been planned that senior private secretary to the President, Colonel Duke Masilo and other members of the business community who have responded to the President's call to help those less fortunate, would officiate,' Mogwe said in the statement. 

Khama's sudden change of mind has raised questions as to whether the President will ever step foot in Kgatleng amid the standoff between government and the Kgatleng tribal authorities following the latter's de-recognition by the former last year.  The tribal leaders vowed not to allow Cabinet Ministers in Kgatleng.  Masilo, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) treasurer Satar Dada and other members of the Kgatleng council went ahead with the ceremony.

Amongst people given the houses was one elderly Kgosietsile Segobaetsho of Mochudi who could not contain his joy as he received the keys to his new neatly built two-bedroom house that has a kitchen and a bathroom. 'I do not know how to express my gratitude towards government for helping me with shelter, but I am very thankful that government has improved my life,' said Segobaetsho.

The handover ceremonies were held at Motsei Ngwato's house in Dikwididi and Kgosietsile Segobaetsho's in Mochudi. Other residents who were to receive their house keys were all gathered at these two homesteads in their respective villages.

Kgatleng District Council Chairman, Steven Makhura and three other civic leaders attended the ceremonies at both places.

Makhura said the budget that they get as the council has never been enough to carry out such programmes and therefore the Presidential Housing Appeal (PHA) project has come in handy to rescue the needy. Khama's office had earlier announced yesterday that he would be in Dikwididi and Mochudi to donate the houses.But Mogwe said the President had a scheduled commitment out of Gaborone and was never on the programme.None of the royal family members or Magosi were in attendance and Bakgatla tribal leaders said they were not aware of the handover ceremony in Kgatleng.