02 May 2016

Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse has been appointed a leader of Pilikwe village, a village founded by the late Bangwato regent Kgosi Tshekedi Khama.

Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse was a journalist and a writer before ascending to this position, having produced a history book entitled Tshekedi Khama: the master whose dogs barked at.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Kgosi Seretse in Pilikwe over the weekend, the Paramount Chief of Bakwena Kgosi Kgari Sechele urged Kgosi Seretse and his deputy Kgosi Johane Rakumako to join hands with the area MP, councillor, Village Development Committee and church leaders to develop and build Pilikwe community.

He said at times dikgosi find themselves at loggerheads with politicians, urging them not to get involved in politics.

He said the kgotla was where everybody went irrespective of political affiliation as such dikgosi and the kgotla area should be apolitical.

Kgosi Kgari said all leaders be it politicians or church leaders had a vital role to play in their respective areas therefore should be afforded the opportunity to play those roles without interference from the other parties.

He said conflicts between leaders was uncalled for as the community was looking up to them to lead them hence should not disappoint the community they were serving.

He urged Kgosi Seretse to unite Pilikwe community and work together with peace and harmony.

Kgosi Kgari further implored Pilikwe community to give Kgosi Seretse and Kgosi Rakumako all the support, particularly that they were young people who were still new in this area of chieftainship.

For his part Bangwato deputy tribal authority Kgosi Serogola Seretse urged Kgosi Seretse to treat his people equally.

“Learn forgiveness, show integrity, rule your people with fairness and a firm hand,” he said.

He said a kgosi was like a tree that every bird settled on, as such should accommodate all people.

He said a kgosi should not befriend anyone rather should be a friend to elderly people as they had wisdom.

For his part, the new Kgosi thanked the Khama family in Pilikwe for giving him the responsibility to lead Pilikwe community.

He said his plan was to follow in the footsteps of the late Kgosi Tshekedi Khama whom he referred to as a visionary leader.

He urged Pilikwe residents to join hands with him to bring back the legacy of Pilikwe Village and that of the late Tshekedi Khama.

He said Tshekedi Khama started Bamangwato Development Association in order to improve the economic status of Pilikwe village and therefore urged Pilikwe residents to help him resuscitate that project to improve the socio-economic status of Pilikwe community.

Kgosi Seretse  thanked the area MP Ms Dorcas Makgato for the Radisele/Pilikwe/Mokobeng road, which will be constructed through the Economic Stimulus Programme, saying that the road was of great importance to the economy of his village. ENDS