05 Jul 2015

Chairman of Sir Seretse Khama committee has revealed a number of initiatives planned towards keeping the Sir Seretse Khama legacy alive.

Speaking during the Sir Seretse Khama Day in Serowe recently, Alfred Thobolwane said the committee has identified a house in Serowe which they intend to solicit from relevant authorities to use as a library that would store the late Sir Seretse Khama literature, memoirs and recordings. 

The move, the chairman said, is intended to keep the Ngwato main kgotla relevant and significant.

Still within the Serowe territory, the committee has identified a hill that when approved by the royalty will be turned into a cultural village where Ngwato culture will be imparted.

To realise their dreams, Thobolwane appealed to those Batswana, regardless of ethnicity, born in 1966 to take over reigns from his ageing committee to keep the fire burning and raise the momentum.

Since 2004, according to Thobolwane, his committee relied on contributions from individuals to prepare for the day. 

However, this year the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture came to their rescue though the chairman called on the increase of such a grant so as to cater for bigger celebrations next year.

Instead of dwelling on the sad part of having lost a great statesman in Sir Seretse Khama Bagammangwato decided to remember and celebrate the first president and their chief and hence decided to hold the remembrance on his birth date of July 1.

Each year the committee invites historians especially those well versed with Ngwato culture, chieftainship and others to deliberate and inform Batswana on the subjects in question. Last year the tribe learnt from one Clark about his relationship with the late statesman and Ngwato kgosi.

This year Bishop Kadi Seisa through his son Simon Seisa (named after his grandfather Simon), famous for his Selefu sobriquet in his Mmegi illustrations and or cartoons, told a packed Serowe kgotla how his father Simon Seisa got whipped by Kgosi Khama III for his failure to advise his friend Sekgoma.

The late Seisa who originated from Lesotho met Sekgoma at Adams College and have since become friends to the extent that Sekgoma invited Seisa to Botswana. 

It was during the visit that Khama the Great developed some interest in the Lesotho man who was renowned for keeping top secrets.

Seisa’s intellect and secret keeping prowess endeared him to the late Ngwato leader who then engaged him as a translator and a private secretary.

However, Seisa crossed paths with kgosi Khama III when he failed to advise Sekgoma against his wish to marry in Shoshong against the tribe’s traditions.

 Besides the traditions, Sekgoma was defying his father and hence Seisa as a close friend bore the Khama brunt.

It was reported that the duo of Seisa and Khama then fled to Lephepe whereupon they heard about the impending raid and fled further afar until they reached as faraway places as Tutume. 

Still in their run, the duo were informed about the imminent raid until they returned to Serowe where Sekgoma and his father buried hatchets and later assumed his reigns as the leader of Ngwato tribe. 

However, his friend declined the post offered to him and chased after his business exploits. 

In the evening the Serowe community was treated to an array of cultural entertainment, ranging from traditional dance to contemporary and cultural exhibitions. ENDS