Despite Masisi having made a promise ahead of the 2019 General Election that he would do all in his power to bring Kgafela who went into exile in 2012, Kgafela has said it turned out that Masisi was just grandstanding as he never reached out until he and his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lost power last month.
In October 2011, government de-recognised Kgafela as Kgosi of Bakgatla Tribe, following the provisions of Section 15(b) of the Bogosi Act. He would in May 2012 depart to South Africa before a warrant of arrest was issued in his name in August 2012. This is after he failed to show up at court in a case where he was accused of unlawful flogging.
Masisi vowed during the 2019 election campaign that he wouldn't rest until Kgafela was back home. Just before the 2019 elections, it was announced that the “Government has formed a view that the de-recognition be reversed and lifted forthwith. This was done in pursuance of the provisions of Section 6 (2) of the Bogosi Act. In this regard, Government Notice No. 513 of 2011 has been revoked".
Despite this, Kgafela who has expressed that he is a very happy man that the BDP lost elections never got his recognition back officially and remains a fugitive from justice with a warrant of arrest on his head. He is now hopeful that the new government will lift the recognition and clear his path back into Botswana.
He said Masisi was just campaigning using his name. “It is true that Masisi used to say he would bring me back home. But every Motswana knows that he wasn't telling the truth because he said those words without consulting me or saying them to me. It was just a way of using my name to campaign and to this day nothing ever happened,” he said.
Kgafela is now hopeful that under the leadership of a human rights lawyer Duma Boko, his time to come home could be near. He, however, said he has spoken to Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe and hopes they will engage more with government to facilitate his return.
“Khama’s Cabinet through Minister Mokalake derecognised me and that was published in the gazette. We expect the new government to recognise me as Kgosikgolo. I have a Kgosi in Botswana and another in South Africa and I am the Kgosikgolo. It must also be clear that there is a Kgosikgolo and a Kgosi. The error made by the High Court must be fixed,” he said.
Kgafela who is expected to return home on May 21, 2025, said he was excited as he missed out on a lot of important events including funerals of his loved ones including his mother.
