09 Jul 2015

What meaning is independence? Different people derive different meanings from the concept of independence. 

However, all agree that it means freedom for individuals or a collective. The question then becomes what freedom? Are we a society shackled by its own freedom?

This is where Kgosi Kea Lempadi of Shakawe has a problem with the youth of this country who seem to confuse political and socio-economic independence for mischief and waywardness. 

For Kgosi Lempadi, independence means that as a country we are able to make our own laws that govern us under a democratic dispensation anchored on principles of Botho, respect for the rule law as well the right of others. 

He says the value of independence depends on how people behave.

Kgosi Lempadi tell the Social Barometer that people should lay blame for the degradation of Batswana’s social values on an emerging society that values money over everything else.

 Most of the youth today, he says, have the financial power to control their parents and thereby disregard good counsel from parents “who brought them up”. 

He says parents on the other hand seem to have abdicated their responsibility to discipline their children because roles have now switched in that children now have economic muscle to control them.

Kgosi Lempadi bemoans the fact that even young girls become breadwinners at a very tender age, thereby making it difficult for parents to guide them when they lose direction.

He says Botswana earned international respect owing to the contribution Dikgosi made to societal values. 

However, the traditional leader is disillusioned with some conventions and protocols the country signed with some international bodies, saying they have contributed to certain lapses in the control of some sectors of society. 

Notwithstanding, he says parents should not despair but continue to try and mould their children to be respectable citizens while appealing to the youth to as well try to get the best from their parents.

 He says no one expects children to suddenly start forming opinions at 16-years-old in a vacuum. Asked on what could be done to correct the ills, Kgosi Lempadi reckons that Dikgosi should be given more powers, “gore thupa e lele”. He quotes: “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them diligently.”

He says cultural practices such as bogwera and bojale contributed immensely to good societal values hence should be revived. ENDS