A young, educated young chief who together with his younger brother are lawyers, and have been practicing law in Botswana, would be expected to operate within the expected bounds of the law. More importantly, Kgafela has been at the forefront of the human rights campaign in Botswana and is well versed with issues of human rights. It is amazing that after much condemnation from the nation for his style of leadership, Kgafela does not show any sign of climbing down from his righteous podium. Whatever is wrong with the Kgafela brothers may indeed take a court of law to decide if what they have been doing is proper. Take the flogging of 56 year-old Tselapedi Mooketsi, who had an argument with the Chief's younger brother Mmusi. Despite the fact that Mooketsi was not given a hearing but flogged on his bareback, Mmusi went on to state that Tselapedi should not have disobeyed his instruction because he is a chief. More people, some of whom have joined Tselapedi in a court action against the Bakgatla royals, were also whipped without a fair hearing. The latest of the "whipped" are pastors of the family of God Church who were whipped for worshipping their God in the manner that they chose. Kgafela fancied that manner too noisy and ordered their whipping. In fact, Kgafela is quoted by one of the papers as saying he ordered the 'boys' flogging because they are disobedient. Strangely, he goes on to repeat, as he did recently, that the pastors are not some old men, but just boys! Do boys have no right. Do you just whip someone because he is a boy. We believe it is time law and order visits Kgatleng. The case against the Kgafela brothers and members of their mephato should be a wake up call to the two young royals. Wisdom, it is said, builds her house, but folly tears hers down. Bogosi is about nation building. It is about consulting and building consensus, not dictatorship. What Kgafela needs to do is learn from his uncles in the likes of Mothibe who should be applauded for his recent statement where he cautioned against decisions that are likely to divide Morafe. Bakgatla should not find themselves living in another state. Already indications are that unless the Bakgatla leadership pauses and introspects Kgatleng will become a state within a state. Already people are afraid to publicly voice opinion, while in the Kgatleng area. This should not be the case. Bakgatla should not be forced to live in an environment akin to Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. Whatever the outcome of the case that has been brought before the courts against Kgafela, his brother and the Mephato, we believe it should cause the Bakgatla leadership to stop and introspect.
