04 Sep 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has described the founding father of Babirwa ethnic group, Kgosi Malema Makhura, as a leader who loved and stood for the rights of his people.

President Khama said, during the unveiling of a tombstone at the grave of the late Kgosi Malema behind Molalatau kgotla, that it was against that background that Babirwa ethnic group had found it befitting to erect a tombstone for their late leader.

He said he received the invitation with great honour and stated that the tombstone would remain a standing figure to remind the ethnic group about their leader and serve as a tourist attraction for locals and foreigners.

President Lt Gen. Khama said Bobirwa area had a rich history and mentioned that the ethnic group having settled in the area around 1800 had fought many fights with other tribes especially the Ndebele’s leaving the area with many cultural tracks. 

Some of the notable cultural heritage in the area the President mentioned the graves for British soldiers that fought with Boers from South Africa that lie along Bobonong/Molalatau.

Cultural sites he said served as tourist attractions in the area and pleaded with residents that as tourists visited other attractions such as Mashatu and Lepokole areas, they should also be shown and briefed about Kgosi Malema’s tomb.

President Khama said the late leader stayed in Mmamakwa in the Tuli Block area and later established Molalatau village in 1923 where he died in 1961 at the age of 106.

President Lt Gen. Khama also showered the current Babirwa leader Kgosi Mmirwa Malema with accolades and said he had been ruling the ethnic group well since he took over in 1972.

He said he loved Kgosi Malema because he had been active as a nation builder and performed his duties diligently as the ethnic group leader.

Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Shaw Kgathi commended the President for honouring the invitation and said the President did so because his government had respect and recognition for the bogosi institution.

Earlier Kgosi Mmirwa Malema said Babirwa just like any other ethnic group in Southern Africa had history and leadership lineage and challenged for the history of the group to be documented.

Kgosi Malema thanked President Khama for “his numerous visits to various villages to get first-hand information about the needs of Batswana.”  ENDS