01 Aug 2016

Retiring Mmopane chief representative, Kgosi Moarabi Manthe, has called for reconciliation among the royal house for the betterment of the village growth and development.

Kgosi Manthe said the royal house was not united. 

Due to this unfortunate development, he said, some of them had even gone as far as alienating themselves, but hoped this would cease. 

Speaking at his farewell ceremony in Mmopane on Saturday, Kgosi Manthe said there was no need for feuds as these were tantamount to bringing unnecessary divisions in the royal house, thus affecting the community.

However, he said of recent he had seen that there was a positive development in this regard.

He said he was elated at the turnover of people at his farewell, noting that even the presents he was showered with were impressive and showed that he was accommodative of all the people.

Nonetheless, Kgosi Manthe called upon Mmopane residents to remain united and give his successor, his son, Mr Simon Manthe unparalleled respect and guard against creating unnecessary cases at the kgotla.

In his usual rhetoric, he challenged bachelors to marry to defuse incidents of passion killings.

He further appealed to those who had penchant to steal river sand, leaving dangerous burrows, to desist from the habit. He however said those who are hired to load such trucks will continue to be whipped at the kgotla.  

The 69-year-old Kgosi Manthe has six children and assumed the throne in 1982 upon his arrival from the South African mines.

His friend, Kgosi Raphael Mmipi from Metsimotlhabe noted how brave and courageous Kgosi Manthe was during his early days as he was able to ride untamed mules. 

He said when he too became kgosi in 1988; their friendship blossomed and was highly inspired by the way Kgosi Moarabi drove around with his tractors.

Kgosi Mmipi said though Kgosi Manthe had a high pitched voice, he did not have a high temper, but instead he merely wanted things to be done fairly in time and according to order.

Speaking on behalf of Bakwena paramount chief, deputy chief, Kgosi Norman Bakwena said dikgosi have enormous task to play in the society even though they do not have formal training as some of them assume the position through birth right.

He, however, praised Kgosi Manthe for his sterling performance during his office time, noting that the new chief should rule with the same spirit and not apply corporal punishment wantonly.

He said Kgosi Manthe was able to unite the tribe among other things, sentiments which were shared by representative of headmen of arbitration Mr Gothamatamang Morake who also said they got guidance from Kgosi Moarabi who also rounded the village to assess the welfare of his people.

In his vote of thanks, MP for the area, Mr Vincent Seretse said the straight talk mentality in Kgosi Manthe was able to unite the tribe as it was based on the spirit of love and harmony. He said such attributes were able to enhance developments in Mmopane.

Mr Seretse however paid tribute to the event organising committee, noting that they should do likewise during the installation ceremony of Mr Simon Manthe. ENDS