Some members of Balwela Kgosi (a group made of Bagammangwato tribesmen and women fighting for Ian Khama) who had camped outside the Khama family home in Serowe over the weekend were denied a permit to march to the Kgotla by the Police. Determined to send a statement, they marched on to the Kgotla and were later dispersed by dozen armed police officers who were on standby at the Kgotla. Shortly after they were dispersed by the Police, some of them were arrested and spent days behind bars.
Their leader Ronald Mojakgomo expressing how they suffered at the hands of the Police, narrated the story stating that nine men were arrested alongside a few women who were released earlier. He said the men spent a night in a very cold Police cell without any blankets. He said they were then made to spend the whole day inside a combi in Serowe only to be later released without charges. “After we left the Kgotla, they came at us and dragged some of us. They took this old man walking with crutches and pulled him out of the car. One of the woman who we were with is still seeking medical attention due to Police brutality,” Mojakgomo said as they briefed their colleagues at the Khama residence after they were released from Police custody.
Mojakgomo said despite their encounter with the Police, they will continue fighting for what they believe is right. “If the Police plan to arrest us on a daily, let them go ahead and do it. Even when we went to lay wreath at Sir Seretse Khama’s gravesite this morning, the Police and DIS officers were all over. But they will not derail us as we will continue until they listen to us and have our Kgosi back in the country and also have our preferred regent appointed,” he said. He said those who were injured continue to be taken for medical attention. He said they will after collecting all medical report present them to Bagammangwato to assist on way forward. “Re bitswa Bagammangwato Ba ga Mabiletsa, b aba kileng ba biletsa Sekgoma ntwa. Re ya go lwa go fitlha letsatsi la bofelo dilo tsa rona di le mo tseleng jaaka re batla go di dira. Ga re kake ra di direlwa ke Serogola kana Autlwetse kana Masisi, re tla di direlwa ke Ian Khama. Ke ene hela mong wa rona yo re tla mo reetsang go tswa go tswa gompieno go ya goileng. Yo Goromente wag a Masisi, ga rena go tlhola re mo tlotla re le Bagammangwato ka gore ga a itse gore re batho ga ana tlotlo mo go rona,” he said. (Loosely translated, Mojakgomo said they will fight to the bitter end to get what they want. He says they have lost respect for the Masisi administration). We never brutalized anyone- Police Meanwhile, the Police have denied using force to disperse or arrest anyone. Officer Commanding in the Policing District Paul Oketsang said:
“We received information that there were some people who had gathered at the former president’s homestead who had intentions of going to the Kgotla. Indeed over 100 people marched to the Kgotla. This act would require one gets a permit before doing so. But they marched all the way to the Kgotla. They had earlier applied for it but were not granted as there was a marathon ongoing in the village which had already been granted a permit under Road Traffic Act by Commissioner of Police". Oketsang said upon telling the people that the two events could not run parallel, they told him that come what may, they would march to the Kgotla. He said he warned that would be against the law. He said he had learnt from them that Kgosi Serogola Seretse who had to give them consent had also turned them down. Making it impossible also for the Police to issue the permit. “When they got there, they failed to produce a permit and told them they had committed a crime by marching without a permit. We read them a proclamation to disperse and instead of going, they stayed there unlawfully. We gave them further five minutes and they left. When thy left the Kgotla, there was no confrontation as they went back to their camp. We arrested eight people who were ring leaders. There were also those who we arrested for holding placards and we are currently investigation the matter,” he said. Oketsang said the investigations are likely to lead to a court case. He said they are likely to make more arrest. He said the charges they are investigating them on relate to marching without a permit and gathering unlawfully despite the proclamation having been read to them. Quizzed on use of force, Oketsang said there was no use of force during the dispersing and arresting. He said he was not aware of any injuries made to anyone. He said those brutalized should report to the Police.
