19 Jul 2016

Bogosi institution needs to be empowered for dikgosi to effectively deliver on their duties.
The sentiments were echoed by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, at the coronation ceremony for Kgosi Tjako Mpulubusi of Mpulubusi ward in Serowe on July 16.
Ms Tshireletso said societal ills such as unpleasant youth behaviour, land conflicts, fights over property and stock theft required intervention of the dikgosi.
“We will continue to resource the customary courts and capacitate dikgosi to ensure effective service delivery,” she said.
However, the assistant minister expressed displeasure at controversies that marred the bogosi institution. Consequently, she said, her ministry visited various dikgotla last year in an endeavour to collect information and document bogosi issues in different villages and wards.
“I am told that when they visited the Mpulubusi ward, those present at the kgotla spoke unanimously about who their kgosi was,” said Ms Tshireletso expressing her gratitude to residents of the Mpulubusi ward for expressing no counter claims.
Kgosi Tjako Mpulubusi who originates from Kalanga tribe of Banyai ba bia pelo ba Tjumeng made a recommendation that Kgosi Gagoope Moseki continue holding the fort for him as she did in the past 10 years.
Kgosi Mpulubusi said he would allow Kgosi Moseki to enjoy the financial benefits of the seat since she had acquitted herself diligently and discharged her duties beyond reproach when there was no remuneration.
He said he would allow Kgosi Moseki to prevail over the ward and preside over the issues that needed her attention for the next four years before he could assume his seat. Before Kgosi Moseki assumed the chieftainship of Mpulubusi ward there was Mr Sekhongwane Mozila who acted as the headman until he retired due to old age.
In his acceptance speech, the son of Lesitamang Matlho-a-Mpulubusi gifted Dr Jeff Ramsay with a swimbo walking stick for having written extensively about Kalanga history.
A retired civil servant from 1974 to 2000, Kgosi Mpulubusi served as a director of national museum and principal tourism officer and holds Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and masters in cultural anthropology amongst a host of academic qualifications under his belt.
It is these qualifications that triggered the writing in him to work with Dr Ramsay and Dr Nthobatsang and fill the gap in the Kalanga history. The book writing idea was suggested by Dr Ramsay who, at the inauguration observed that the history of Bakalanga ‘has been relatively neglected.’
In his writing Dr Ramsay wrote, “As a result there has been a little popular recognition of the accomplishments of either the Bahumbwe (Chibundule) or Banyayi (Nichasike) dynasties who, for nearly half a millennia successfully united and expanded the domain of Bakalanga into what was for many generations Southern Africa’s largest and most sophisticated kingdom. “
“The idea would not be to determine the rightful owners of the land but enlighten people,” said kgosi Mpulubusi who revealed that he read Kalanga history since 1976 at Library of Congress, USA.
His main deterrent, he said, was that the history was documented in Portuguese. Kgosi Mpulubusi claimed that his extensive reading on the subject ensured that he now could tell the remnants of his tribe by looking at them rather that dwelling on books to consume writings. ENDS