Mmegi

Gov’t divides Ngwato royals

INNOCENT SELATLHWA

If there was any plan by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kgotla Autlwetse to divide and rule Bangwato as alleged, it has borne fruit. Following the suspension and retirement of Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane from his official duties as Bagammangwato regent, his deputy, Kgosi Serogola Seretse is under fire from former president Ian Khama’s uncles who accuse him of neglecting his responsibility to Morafe and their Kgosi, Khama.

Addressing a press conference early this week at the disputed house, one of the royal uncles, Rasebolai Kgamane, expressed frustration that they are not united with all their Dikgosi and Dikgosana in Gammangwato because of Kgosi Serogola and Autlwetse.

“We warn Autlwetse to stop what he continues to do with our Dikgosana. He is dragging them into politics and he must know that we stand with them. There should be respect for law and order. Government has shown that it does not respect Bagammangwato Bogosi. In April, Autlwetse called Dikgosana to the council chambers where political issues are discussed to address Morafe issues. He went to announce to them that he was suspending Kgamane. The issue was supposed to have been discussed at the Kgotla. We have seen at Ngwaketse and Kgatleng where their Dikgosi were suspended at the Kgotla. Only our Kgosi gets suspended from council chambers. We were deeply hurt by this,” Rasebolai lamented.

While Serogola is recognised by government as the acting regent, to Khama’s uncles, he is just the deputy and they will continue recognising Kgamane until he is procedurally replaced.

“We will continue recognising Kgamane as the regent of Bagammanwato bogosi. We do not accept his removal. He might be removed from the government structure, but anything we will be doing with Morafe, we will be looking up him to lead us. Not getting a salary from government does not mean he is not Khama’s uncle. He will continue in his role,” he said. Rasebolai added that as royal uncles, they are in the process of consulting on Kgamane’s replacement. He said this, they can only do at the Bagammangwato Kgotla as well as going to many other Dikgotla in Gammangwato despite having been banned from the Dikgotla.

Quizzed on what he meant that they recognise Kgamane in the presence of Serogola, Rasebolai would not hold back his frustrations against him. “We recently wrote a petition following the letter of Kgamane’s eviction and wanted to hand it over to the District Commissioner. They sent us back saying it was signed by the Permanent Secretary Molefhi Keaja through Kgosi Serogola Seretse. We just went there knowing he would also reject it. He indeed refused to accept it. We have realised that Kgosi Serogola is now on the side of government. He has abandoned us. We asked to meet him on two occasions and he refused to meet us. We should be here with him but he does not want anything to do with us,” he said.

Kgosi Seretse Peter Khama added: “Even Dikgosana in Serowe, we are with them because they are in our Dikgotla but when we try to speak to them, they tell us they are civil servants and they will only do what government tells them to do. That is a major concern to us. He was supposed to be here with his cabinet of Dikgosi from the four major wards. That is how Bogosi is. We wanted him at the Dikgotla so that when we consult, all people can then get the message through their Dikgosana. Their absence here will disturb the process we are trying to undertake at the instruction of Kgosi Khama of looking for a new regent. They are in his Kgotla but they want to disrupt our Bogosi ways,” he said.

Reached for a comment, Ian Khama who has been away from home for a year now, said he is aware of the feud and fingers the administration of the day. “It has been brought to my attention that his relationship with my uncles and other elders is strained. I believe this is brought about by Autlwetse carrying out his master’s wishes to divide us. Prior to his current circumstances, where he has been imposed in the acting capacity for the incumbent tribal authority Kgosi Kgamane, my relationship and interactions with him were cordial. Since I have been away, the same opportunity to interact has obviously been significantly lessened but on those occasions when we do communicate, it is always cordial as before,” he said.

Serogola would not field questions from this publication stating that he had too much on his plate.

Meanwhile Autlwetse denied any wrongdoing on his part stating that he did nothing wrong. “As a Minister responsible for Bogosi, I engage with them as per the law requirements. There is nothing sinister I did to be blamed for people conducting themselves as civil servants should,” he said.

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2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://enews.mmegi.bw/article/281565179783348

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