03 Oct 2017

Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse says it is crucial for corporal punishment to be administered on the back and not just buttocks.

Speaking during Independence Day celebrations in Kanye on Saturday, Kgosi Malope argued that a few lashes on the buttocks did not serve the intended purpose.

He raised concern that some young Batswana were fast deviating from values like Botho which had served the nation well thus far.  He observed that there was a rising wave of lawlessness among the youth, and said he feared that if left unchecked, the nation might find itself in a ditch.

Kgosi Malope said his community was besieged with troublesome young people who attacked unsuspecting victims at night.

He said some of the perpetrators take the punishment metered out to them with brazen contempt and never showed remorse.

He noted that canning on the back never killed anyone.

Kgosi Malope further challenged parents to provide guidance and leadership to their children. He said some parents have dumped their unruly children on the lap of government. In other issues, Kgosi Malope encouraged Batswana to respect the independence day.

He said they have every reason to celebrate the foundations laid by their forefathers. Meanwhile, the guest speaker at the event, Mr Tshepo Masire said Batswana needed to look back and appreciate the fact that they built the nation by the sweat of their brows from what was viewed by some as a barren desert. He said the achievements made thus far should motivate Batswana to take advantage of available government programmes and better their lives, especially through farming rather than hoping to get a job somewhere.

Mr Masire, a reputable commercial farmer, informed the gathering that he earned a living through farming.

He explained that farming was a rewarding venture.

Mr Masire furthermore advised Batswana to take care of their health, adding that good health was good wealth.

He advised them to screen for conditions such as hypertension, sugar diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases. He implored those who tested positive to adhere to treatment.

Mr Masire pledged a cow or wild animal to be slaughtered during next year’s celebrations.

Taking the gathering down memory lane, Kgosi Kitso Kelosiwang informed them that Bangwaketse, Bakwena and Bangwato were children of Kgosi Malope-a-Melora-a-Mheta-a-Megale.

He said they dispersed to form distinctive tribes after their father died. However, he said their children being Kgosi Bathoen I, Kgosi Sebele I and Kgosi Kgama I later converged and went to Britain to seek for a protectorate realising that the nation faced a threat from the advancing Boers of Transvaal. ENDS