25 Jan 2017

Incidents of arson have left Mmathethe residents reeling in shock after two kgotla shelters were gutted by fire a few days before the country's 50th anniversary last year,.

The two kgotla shelters, one at Goora-Tebogo and another at the main kgotla were torched on September 23 and 25, 2016 respectively spelling doom and dampening the spirits of residents who were gearing up for the BOT50 carnival at the time.

To date, police who were called to investigate the matter are yet to conclude the matter.

A visit by BOPA team to Mmathethe, situated 50 km south of the Bangwaketse capital, Kanye, to follow up on the latest concerning the issue suggested there might be simmering tension that if left unabated could spark a row and perhaps divide the otherwise serene village.

Just last week, Kgosi Daniel Mathiba moved with speed and sent for his subjects at the main kgotla in a two-tier meeting  to update them on the latest concerning investigations by the police as well as try and chart the way forward to rebuild the shelters in question.

“As a leader, I called on morafe to come and be apprised on the matter which all along has been in the hands of the police. Sometimes in December, 2016 the police paid me a visit where I was told investigations on the matter are yet to bear fruit. The police also assured me however that there was further investigations on the matter,” he said. In his meeting with the police, they agreed that morafe should be given the green light to reconstruct the shelters pending further investigations.

Thatwithstanding, last week meeting took a new twist when Kgosi Mathiba felt hard done by media reports that linked him to the burning down of Goora-Tebogo shelter.

“There are some people who are peddling untruths saying I am part of the people who committed this heinous act. Such people assert I did that out of hatred,” he said adding that there were other outstanding issues including that of bogosi that perhaps needed to come to the fore and be addressed once and for all.

Perhaps in an attempt to clear his name and quell the rift, Kgosi Mathiba together with residents resolved to escalate the matter to Kgosikgolo Malope.

Meanwhile, Mr Odirile Abram, a resident of Mmathethe expressed displeasure at the turn of events.

The dreadful acts, he said, were a shame and total departure from the Setswana culture and custom.

A kgotla, according to Mr Abram, should be held with high esteem particularly that it formed an important platform for consultation among important tenets that helped built Botswana.

“I am among the proponents who says reconstruction has to start forthwith and must state categorically that justice must also be pursued with the same verve and bring culprits to book,” he said.

Another resident, Ms Ompelege Kamodi concurred with Mr Abram, saying villagers should go back to the drawing boards and raise funds for the rebuilding of the shelters.

She said the ordeal had left them with no place to hold meetings let alone other pertinent cultural events such as patlo. BOPA