When the Mmegi team visited Serowe on Wednesday, the signs of preparation were evident everywhere. From the Botalaote ward, where Mogae’s family home stands, to the roads leading to the main Kgotla, residents were working diligently to clean and repair the village. Streets were swept, grass was cut, and even potholes along the key routes were fixed. Every action reflected a collective desire to present the village in its best light, as though the entire community were paying tribute to a national hero through their labour and attention to detail. At the main Kgotla, where the body viewing by the Bagammangwato is scheduled, the atmosphere was alive with purposeful activity. Members of the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, and tribal leaders coordinated meticulously to ensure that every detail, from security to ceremonial arrangements, was in order. The combination of formal discipline and community-driven effort created a rhythm that was both structured and deeply heartfelt. It was a scene where tradition met modernity, with each participant aware of the significance of the occasion. In an interview on Wednesday, Kgosi Bakae Khumo shared the village’s collective mindset. “Kgosikgolo Ian Khama has told us that Mogae should be given the dignity he deserves. We will give him respect and are working well with the family,” he said. He further praised the family for allowing the late president’s body to visit his home villages of Serowe and Palapye before being laid to rest in Gaborone.
“He will first go to Botalaote Kgotla, his house, before coming to the main Kgotla,” Kgosi Khumo explained, highlighting the careful orchestration of the farewell and the deep respect embedded in every step of the process. Indeed, the preparations extended beyond ceremonial gestures.
