Government is likely to resist his bid as they have already challenged his legitimacy for the position. Khama announced to Bagammangwato over the weekend that he was ready to take over the reins for the first time since being appointed in 1977. “On May 5, 1977, at our Kgotla in Serowe, I was appointed as Kgosikgolo and a month later on June 5 of the same year, it was gazetted. But because I was still a soldier, there was an arrangement to have a Motshwarelela Kgosikgolo (regent) and Mokgacha Mokgadi was appointed. In 1988, Sediegeng Kgamane was appointed to the position and government removed him from work. He had also wanted to leave. We then submitted Seretse Peter Khama’s name but they kept delaying. We took the matter to court. But I'm concerned the one who is currently in the Kgotla has become big-headed. He thinks he is the Kgosi and he is dividing us. I think the time has come that I take over as your Kgosikgolo and serve you at the Serowe Kgotla,” he said.
Khama said it was time he took over and met Bagammangwato everywhere. “These people are disrespecting and dividing us. I must now take over as Kgosi and try to fix it. It's not nice being outside and hearing things aren't going well. I'm going to make sure there is peace and unity between all of us. I will be representing all of you and I will be able to go around the country meeting people as Kgosi and also as former president,” he said. The former president said he would meet with his uncles to discuss when they can start consulting government on his intentions to take over. It however looks like Khama would still need to go through courts to take up his seat at the Kgotla. This is because government doubts his eligibility as per the affidavit of the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Kgotla Autlwetse in a case in which Khama wanted him compelled to install Seretse Peter Khama as Motshwarelela Bogosi. According to the minister, in terms of the law as it stood then, once the traditional process of crowning him as Kgosi at the Kgotla was completed, his name should have been sent to the President of Botswana who was bound by the mandatory requirements of the law to gazette it. It was only after the President had gazetted his name that Khama would become a Kgosi recognised by law.
“I have caused a search to be conducted in the archives for a Government Gazette in terms of which Khama was gazetted as chief of Bangwato and I haven't been able to find any such Gazette. I aver that Khama has also failed to attach a copy of any Gazette that proves his recognition as chief of the Bagammangwato tribe. Annexure A to his founding affidavit, which he says serves as such proof, doesn't. The said Gazette only proves the appointment of Mokgacha Mokgadi as Tribal Authority,” Autlwetse stated. The minister said unless Khama proves that he has been gazetted as Kgosi, he can't designate a Motshwarelela Bogosi. It remains to be seen if Khama who is also a patron of the Botswana Patriotic Front will be accepted by Minister Autlwetse.
