SHONGOCHENA: Like the proverbial grass that suffers when elephants fight, residents of Shongochena are caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between Borolong and Chadibe.The people of this ward, that is known as Mpatane by Borolong residents and Dikgathong by Chadibe villagers, say they are not part of Chadibe village.Over the years, there has been a simmering wrangle between the two adjacent villages over the ward. The wrangling has even escalated to the extent that Senior Sub-tribal Authority Kgosi Radipitse Radipitse of Tonota has on many occasions tried to mediate between the two, failed and later sought help from the Bangwato Regent, Sediegeng Kgamane.In 2010, Kgamane visited Shongochena to mediate in the dispute and he ruled that the ward belonged to Borolong. It is now well known in the two villages that Chadibe community authorities disagreed with Kgamane's ruling, but there was a hiatus in the controversy surrounding the ward.
At a recent function that was meant to celebrate the origin and history of Chadibe village, Kgosi Aaron Boy Nyambe when expounding about the village said the ward belonged to them. This he did by including the ward in a list of wards that make up the their village.Last week, Mmegi visited the ward for insight on the resident's feelings regarding the dispute and what position they hold. They were adamant that they did not belong to Chadibe since Chadibe became a village while Shongochena was already a settlement. They say Modisaotsile Mpatane was the first person to settle in the ward, residing where Tlhalogang Secondary School is presently located.
