The Monitor (Botswana)

Radisele residents ‘shoot’ Serogola’s messenger

● Residents refuse to seek Bogosi services from Pilikwe ● Say Kgosi Gasebalwe’s elevation raises suspicions ● Ian Khama says he was not consulted

RADISELE: A storm could possibly be brewing here, as residents are vehemently opposed to a decision by the main Kgotla in Serowe to have their village report to Pilikwe and not Palapye any more.

The first signs pointing to possible simmering tensions in the future unfolded on Friday when Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye landed in Radisele to deliver the message from Acting Bagammangw­ato regent, Kgosi Serogola Seretse, sparking discontent amongst the crowd that gathered at Radisele Kgotla.

The announceme­nt by Kgosi Tshipe, who was accompanie­d by Kgosi Lebang of Palapye, left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Radisele residents. Many felt that the decision to elevate Pilikwe to a higher status village over theirs was unreasonab­le and without cause.

The Radisele residents reasoned that with a population of over 3,000 people as opposed to Pilikwe’s 1,000 plus, it made no sense to have their village report to the latter instead of the other way round. Even worse, said the residents, the decision by Serowe meant that Radisele residents would have to traverse an ‘unfriendly’ terrain characteri­sed by bad roads to seek services in Pilikwe.

Until now, Radisele alongside Mokgware and Mogome reported to Palapye on Bogosi issues. On Friday, Kgosi Tshipe revealed that there was also a historical context to the decision to elevate Pilikwe over Radisele, with Pilikwe having been led previously by Tshekedi Khama, a prominent uncle of the late Bagammngwa­to Kgosikgolo Seretse Khama and at one point his regent in Serowe.

At the Friday Kgotla meeting, former councillor Michael Motshidi was the first to express disappoint­ment, stating; “We waited on Friday hoping to be consulted, but it was clear that a decision had already been taken by the people in Serowe.”

Motshidi decried the new challenge going forward of Radisele residents who would have to take a longer route through Palapye in order to access Pilikwe for services. This, he said, was because the shorter route to Pilikwe was not passable as it was in a bad state. He hinted that in the past the Bogosi leadership in Pilikwe was not always willing to cooperate with Radisele. Mojaboswa Jabeng echoed these sentiments, asserting, “This is not consultati­on. Kgosi Lebang should have consulted us first instead of coming here to tell us that she had already agreed to a decision made in Serowe.”

Jabeng queried the haste in the process, underscori­ng the residents’ desire to remain under

Palapye.

While Kgosi Tshipe cited Palapye developing into a town, residents like Jabeng argued for their right to partake in that developmen­t. Jabeng was skeptical about the real reasons behind the elevation of Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse to oversee areas like Radisele, saying the unfairness of the decision raised more questions than answers. “It would appear that someone is trying to involve us in matters that do not concern us,” he said.

The residents also raised concerns that since taking over from Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane, Kgosi Serogola was never introduced to them as the rightful regent of Bogosi ja Gammangwat­o, something they said was unusual.

Bonolo Ontebetse questioned the manner of Kgosi Tshipe’s ‘consultati­on’ saying the chief from Mahalapye had come to deliver a decision instead. “There is more to this developmen­t than those who made the decision are willing to divulge,” he said. Kabo Thebeyame added his voice, expressing discontent with being tools of the Bagammangw­ato royals. “We cannot be used to hire someone in Pilikwe while we are being overlooked here. We also want our village to develop.”

Meanwhile, Kgosi Tshipe found himself facing mounting resistance and discontent from the morafe. Despite promising that he would convey their views to Kgosi Serogola, the lack of substantiv­e explanatio­ns left the residents frustrated and wary of the unfolding political maneuvers within the realm of Bagammangw­ato Bogosi. Meanwhile, the self-exiled Bagammangw­ato Kgosikgolo Ian Khama said he knew nothing about the move which he believes he should have been consulted on.