20 Dec 2015

Mourners, among them, the Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, attended the funeral of Kgosi Mareko Mosielele of Bahurutshe ba ga Mmapula-a-Modisane in Manyana on Saturday (December 19).

Kgosi Mosielele (91) died on December 10 after a long illness.  

Mr Masisi described Kgosi Mosielele as a selfless, kind and loving father of the nation whose life touched many others in the district and beyond.

Mr Masisi, who is also Member of Parliament for the Moshupa/Manyana constituency, said Kgosi Mosielele who served in the Bechuanaland Legislative Council from 1959 to 1961 was a distinguished contributor to the history of Botswana. 

He said Kgosi Mosielele knew when to complement, advise or channel his grievances to government and urged other tribal leaders to take cue.

He said government had taken a decision to service land at the Manyana plateau, thanks to Kgosi Mosielele’s vision for the village.He described his passing as a loss to family, friends, Bahurutshe and the nation at large.

“On behalf of government, I urge you Bahurutshe to take comfort in that, although he is gone, he fought a good battle, kept his faith and leaves behind a legacy for generations to come,”he said.

Kgosi Mosinyi Radipitse of Bahurutshe in Tonota explained that Kgosi Mosielele was instrumental in re-uniting Bahurutshe booMotebele and booMotebejana who settled at various places in the country after disintegrating at Transvaal many years ago.

Kgosi Victor Suping of Supingstad in South Africa said Kgosi Mosielel was a pillar of strength for Bahurutshe. 

He said Kgosi Mosielele had installed his father as kgosi in 1959 and raised him after the latter’s death in 1959.

Kgosi Mosadi of Balete shared that Kgosi Mosielele was strict but kind and loving. She added that Kgosi Mosielele was a straight talker who dispensed justice without fear or favour. She explained that he draped her with a leopard skin and installed her as kgosi at a time when it was unheard of for a woman to lead a tribe.

A representative from Namibia, Kgosi Dineo Mokhatu said Batlharo and Bahurutshe came from one lineage. He said they have in the recent past strengthened their ties with the guidance of Kgosi Mosielele.

Kgosi Mosielele was further described by other dikgosi as a unifier for Bahurutshe both in Botswana and neighbouring countries like South Africa and Namibia.

 

He is survived by nine children, two sons, seven daughters, 19 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great-great child. Ends