Chadibe chief makes fresh claim to disputed ward

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Tuesday January 8, 2013 00:00

CHADIBE: It was a function organised by village authorities to celebrate the origin and history of Chadibe at the village's main kgotla on December 29. However, they may have stirred a hornet's nest and consequently broken an uneasy truce with their neighbouring Borolong village over a disputed ward located between the two villages.There has been simmering tension between the two adjacent villages over the ward, which in Chadibe is called Dikgathong while Borolong residents refer to as Mpatane. Residents of both villages also call the ward, Shongochena. 

A few years ago, Bangwato Regent, Sediegeng Kgamane was asked to mediate in the dispute and he ruled that the ward belonged to Borolong. It is well-known that Chadibe community authorities disagreed with Kgamane's ruling, but there was a hiatus in the controversy surrounding the ward. But on December 29, Chadibe community leaders, particularly Kgosi Aaron Boy Nyambe took to the podium, and in expounding about the village origin and history, he (Nyambe) said the ward belongs to Chadibe. In the audience was Kgosi Radipitse Radipitse of Tonota who was an invited guest, and a delegation from Borolong.  Kgosi Israel Molema of Borolong apparently could not make it to the celebrations and had delegated Botogile Padipadi, the headman of Sebina ward in Borolong to represent him.

The Borolong residents appeared shocked and could be heard murmuring among themselves as Nyambe went on listing the six wards (among them Mpatane/Dikgathong). One woman, obviously from Borolong, could not contain herself as she spoke exasperatingly:'Eish waitse ke mathata. Naare batho ba Chadibe ba batlang mo kgotlaneng ya rona? Ija! (This is a problem. What exactly do these Chadibe people want with our ward).'However, when Mmegi sought an audience with Nyambe yesterday, he was unrepentant, stressing that the ward belonged to Chadibe.

He said they were deliberately ignoring Kgamane's ruling and were instead seeking legal redress. 'According to the origin of our village, Dikgathong belongs to us. As the village elders, we did not agree with Kgosi Kgamane 's ruling over it and we have sought legal assistance about the matter.   'In the meantime, it (Dikgathong/Mpatane) still belongs to us until our attorneys give the go-ahead to go to court,' said Nyambe.When approached for comment, Kgosi Radipitse was noncommittal on the issue, although he could be perceived to support Chadibe's claim to the ward by his conspicuous presence at the celebrations. When Mmegi sought his comment, he   chose  to   be    ambiguous and only said: 'Two years ago Kgosi Kgamane ruled that the area belongs to Borolong. I do not know why Chadibe has listed it as one of theirs. Ngwanaka, ke dikgang tsa beng ba tsone (My child, it is their problem).'

He added at that one two occasions he attempted to mediate between the two villages but failed. He said he ended up seeking assistance from dikgosi in Serowe and that is when Kgosi Kgamane intervened and made the ruling that the area belongs to Borolong.  When contacted Kgosi Israel Molema declined to comment. He said Padipadi had not briefed him and so he could not say anything on the matter.